Influence of laying on iron metabolism in quail

Haematological and iron content values for liver, spleen, intestines, blood, ovary and eggs were determined in female quails, from the prelaying state to full laying. A drop in hematocrit, haemoglobin and in the liver stores occurred at the onset of laying (48 to 51 d of age), but these values recovered after 5 to 10 d. The iron lost in eggs (0.3 mg Fe/egg) was responsible for this. An active homeostatic control must be necessary to supply adequate iron for both eggs and blood formation. Quails fed on an iron-deficient diet distributed iron preferentially to the haematopoietic processes, at the expense of the iron content of the eggs and a subsequent reduction of viability.