Comparative Evaluation of Hematological, Biochemical and Blood Morphological Variables between Omani Chicken and Cobb 500 Boiler Breeds at Three Different Age Intervals

One-day-old chicks were separately allocated to two groups, indigenous and commercial strains of chickens. Each strain was divided into fifteen replicates of six chicks per replicate: a total of 90 chicks per strain. An experimental medication-free diet, primarily composed of corn-soybean meal, was given to the chicks. Blood samples were collected at 1, 3, and 5 weeks of age for hematological, serum biochemistry and morphometry assessment of blood cells of both breeds. Hematological analysis involved some parameters for red blood cells and different white blood cells. For serum chemistry, total protein, certain enzymes, electrolytes, urea, and glucose were assessed. It was noted that age and breed influenced hematological values in the two breeds. In contrast to Cobb 500, local breed had values in an increasing trend with age, specifically for RBCs, Hb, and PCV. As for WBC, both breeds had an increasing trend in heterophils count with age but not for monocytes or lymphocytes which tended to decrease. The two breeds did not differ much in serum biochemistry as they both showed a trend for increase in aspartate aminotransferase and CK level with age. Moreover, both age and breed had a significant effect on the length, width, and area of erythrocyte and thrombocyte. This study revealed a significant impact of age on all hematological parameters in both local Omani and Cobb 500 broiler chickens and could furnish markers suggesting the health status of these breeds.