Determination of blood constituents reference values in broilers

Eight hundred broilers were examined to define the reference values of nine blood constituents (total proteins, albumin, total and free cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and phosphorus). The broilers, coming from 20 different commercial poultry operations, were equally divided into different groups according to age (21 and 45 days), strain (Arbor Acres and Hybro), sex, and sampling season (summer or winter). Age and sampling season were the variation sources that most influenced the values of the hematochemical variables examined. The interaction of age with strain influenced total proteins total and free cholesterol, triglycerides, and ALP. The interaction of age with sampling season influenced all hematochemical constituents except triglycerides. Reference limits defined by .975 and .025 fractiles were computed for each blood constituent according to the significance of different variation sources and their combinations. Reference limits defined herein could be used as indicators of metabolic and health conditions of a poultry farm.