Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the values of whole blood coagulation time (WBCT), haematocrit (HM), haemaglobin (HB) and total protein (TP) of one hundred and eighteen apparently healthy turkeys reared under an extensive management system in Zaria. The mean values for WBCT, HM, HB and TP were 1.12 ± 0.02 min, 31.31 ± 0.52%, 10.43 ± 0.17g% and 7.89 ± 0.14g/dl, respectively. The mean value of 1.14 ± 0.41 min for WBCT of the male turkey was not significantly different (P>0.05) from the mean value of 1.11 ± 0.04 min obtained from the female. Similarly, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the mean HM value of 32.12 ± 0.89 recorded for the male and the mean value of 30.60 ± 0.59 recorded for the female turkey. The correlation coefficient between age and WBCT was negative and significant (r = -0.235, P0.05). The relationship between WBCT and HM was also negative and insignificant (r = -0.073, P>0.05). On the other hand, the correlation coefficient between the HM and HB was positive and highly significant (r = 0.999, P<0.001). The results obtained in the present study provide baseline values for WBCT, HM, HB and TP in turkeys reared under an extensive management system in Zaria.

Keywords:Haematocrit, Haemoglobin, Total protein, Turkey, Zaria.