title: Haematological and biochemical parameters during the laying period in common pheasant hens housed in enhanced cages.
abstract: The development of selected haematological and biochemical parameters during the laying period was monitored in common pheasant hens housed in an enhanced cage system. The cages were enhanced by the addition of two perches and a shelter formed by strips of cloth hanging in the corner of the cage. The results showed significant changes in the haematological and biochemical parameters monitored during egg laying. At the time when laying capacity approached a maximum, a decrease was observed (P < 0.05) in haematocrit, erythrocytes, and haemoglobin values, whereas monocytes, eosinophils, the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, phosphorus, and calcium exhibited an increase (P < 0.05). At the end of the laying period, an increase (P < 0.05) was recorded in the count of leukocytes, heterophils, lymphocytes and basophils, the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and the concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, phosphorus, and calcium, whereas lower values (P < 0.05) were recorded for haematocrit and plasma total protein in comparison with the values of the indicators at the beginning of the laying period. The results provide new information about dynamic changes in selected haematological and biochemical parameters in clinically healthy common pheasant hens during the laying period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrabčáková
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voslářová
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Iveta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bedáňová
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimíra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pištěková
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chloupek
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackeho Třída 1/3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Večerek
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018153:Czech Republic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D046094:Galliformes / Q000502:physiology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006799:Housing, Animal; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010758:Phosphorus; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002118:Calcium