Reference values for the erythrocytic profile of Anak 2000 broilers and Lohmann brown pullets in Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria

Reference values for the erythrocytic indices are vital for the diagnosis of anaemia and polycythemia and also for the assessment of efficacy of therapy instituted to correct these abnormalities. This study determined the reference values for the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HbC), red blood cell (RBC) counts, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of Anak 2000 broilers (A2B) at 14-day intervals for 84 days and Lohmann brown pullets (LBP) at 21-day intervals for 147 days. A total of 120 chickens were used for the study (60 A2B and 60 LBP), and all haematological determinations followed standard procedures. Results of the determinations on the A2B showed that PCV and HbC did not significantly vary (p > 0.05) with age and had a low correlation with age (r = −0.22 and r = 0.15, respectively), but RBC counts increased with and positively correlated with age (r = 0.78), while MCV and MCH decreased with and were strongly inversely correlated with age (r = −0.80 and r = −0.84, respectively), and MCHC did not follow a definite pattern. For the LBP, there were no significant variations (p > 0.05) associated with age in the PCV, RBC counts, MCV, MCH and MCHC up to 105 days of age; the significant variations (p < 0.05) obtained after day 105 were associated with pre-lay and egg-laying. The HbC of the LBP did not significantly vary (p > 0.05) all through the study. When compared with findings in similar studies as reported by other investigators, some of the values obtained in this study and the patterns of change in relation to age were in agreement while some others contrasted, probably because of differences between the strains and the climatic/environmental conditions under which the chickens were raised.