Hematological values in poultry

Abstract

The various hematological values (hematocrit, blood and plasma volume, erythro­ cyte volume) have been determined in three species of poultry [hen (49 specimens), turkey (13 specimens), duck (8 specimens)] with distinction of sexes and laying period. In the turkeys and duck the determinations have been repeated about to 4-5 months from the first assay; in this moment the females were in laying state.

It is appreciated that the duck shows values considerably superior to the other species.

With age there is a diminution, in general, in blood and plasma volumen, effected by the increase in size.

Due to the superimposition of the factors it is not possible to prove here a direct influence of the laying phenomenon on the values analyzed.