Egg quality and blood parameters of “Bianca di Saluzzo” and Isa Brown hens kept under free range conditions

Abstract

Egg quality traits and some blood parameters of Bianca di Saluzzo hen (BSh) were compared to Isa Brown hen (IBh). Birds were reared in free range conditions. Weight of the whole egg was higher (P≤0.01) for IBh, due to its higher amount of albumen (P≤0.01) whereas BSh egg showed the highest weight and relative percentage of yolk (P≤0.01). IBh and BSh egg chemical composition was similar. Total red cells did not show statistical differences between groups, while total leucocytes were lower (P≤0.05) for BSh Heterophyl/Lymphocyte (H/L) ratio of BSh was lower (P hens. than IBh (0.33 vs. 0.82). IBh α-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) mean concentrations were affected by time: the values registered after 15 d (T1) and 2 months (T2) of observation were similar (345±132 and 279±58 μg/ml r while AGP value registered after 4 months (T3) were significantly higher espectively), (700±487 μg/ml); BSh did not display any AGP statistical variation over time. IBh albumin mean concentration (1.62 g/dL) was statistically lower than BSh values (1.89 g/dL); in both groups no effect of time of sampling was recorded. Acute phase protein (APP) values of BSh suggested a more adaptive attitude to free range conditions and appeared more constant over time. The present findings suggest genetic or adaptive differences affecting egg quality, physiological and immunological parameters.

≤0.01)

Key words:

• Bianca di Saluzzo
• Egg quality
• Acute phase protein
• Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio