Effect of age and strain on haematological and gasometric parameters in selected and non-selected broiler chickens

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effect of age and strain on haematological and gasometric parameters in selected and non-selected broiler chickens. Forty selected and 10 nonselected male broiler chickens were used. Blood samples were withdrawn at 21 and 42 days of age, and haematological parameters were determined including (red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)) and gasometric pH, partial pressure of oxgen (p 0 2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pC02) were determined. The results showed that almost all studied parameters are affected by broiler strain and age. Selected broiler shown lower red blood cell (RBC) count and higher mean cell volume (MCV) at 21 days of age, when compared to that of 42 day old animals, and an inverse relation was verified by non-selected broiler. These data suggest that selected broiler chickens could have higher sensitivity to alterations in pulmonary rheological parameters at early age, and triggering the ascite’s syndrome.