Effects of seasons on haematologic and serum biochemical profiles of indigenous chickens in Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Shendam Outstation of the National Veterinary Research Institute to investigate the influence of seasons on haematologic and serum biochemical profiles of indigenous chickens in Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria. Four males and forty females formed the base populations. For haematologic parameters, season had significant effect only on haemoglobin, PCV (P<0.001), MCV, MCHC (P<0.05) and monocytes (P<0.001). Haemoglobin was highest (14.58±2.52g/dl) during the late rainy season and lowest (12.41±2.99; 12.33±3.14g/dl) during the late and early rainy seasons respectively. The PCV had highest value (35.98± 1.19%) during late rainy season and lowest (31.18± 1.20%) during the early rains. On the other hand, monocytes were highest (3.21±0.13%) during the early rains and lowest (1.01±0.20%) during the early dry season. For biochemical parameters on the other hand, season had significant effect only on glucose, albumin (P<0.001), total protein (P<0.01), cholesterol (P<0.001) and calcium (P<0.05). For these serum biochemical parameters, highest versus lowest values on season bases were: glucose (early higher than late rainy season), albumin (late than early rainy season), total proteins (early than late rainy season), cholesterol (late rains than late dry season), cholesterol (late rains than late dry season) and calcium (late rains than late dry season) respectively. On the higher haematologic values during the late rains might have been because of favourable environment. There were also variations in biochemical parameters with season but there was no trend to indicate that they were in response to environmental changes. Deliberate efforts should be made to ameliorate the effects posed by these changes.

Keywords: Effect, Seasons, erythrogram, biochemical, profile, indigenous chickens