Abstract
This study was conducted on local chicken in Alamata district from January to April 2010 to evaluate local chicken erythrocyte and to see the effect of sex and age on these values. A total of 262 chickens were randomly selected and whole blood was collected using EDTA coated test tubes. The blood samples collected were subjected to laboratory analysis to determine the value of PCV, Hb concentratioon, and RBC count. MCV, MCH and MCHC were calculated from the values of PCV, Hb concentration and RBC count. It was found that the mean values for PCV, Hb, and RBC count were 39.16% (38.09-40.22 at 95%CI); 9.46gm/dl (9.21-9.71 at 95% CI) and 3.34 x106/mm3 (3.20-3.47 x106/mm3 at 95%CI) respectively. The calculated values for MVC, MCH and MCHC were 126.34fl, 31.10pg and 24.79%, respectively. Statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in PCV, MCV and MCHC mean values were found between young and adult chickens. However, the differences in Hb, RBC and MCH mean values were not statistically significant (p>0.05) for young and adult local chicken. Again the difference in mean values for PCV and MCHC in male and female chickens were statistically significant (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant figure (p>0.05) was found in mean values of RBC count, Hb concentration, MCV and MCH between male and female chicken. It is recommended that this finding can be considered when there is a need of normal hematological values of local chicken.
