International Journal of Poultry Science 6 (6): 459-461, 2007 ISSN 1682-8356 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2007 459 The Effect of Age on Hematological and Serum Biochemical Values on Juvenile Ring-Necked Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) Elizabeth Moreira dos Santos Schmidt , Antonio Carlos Paulillo , Rosangela Locatelli Dittrich , 1,2,3 3 4 Elizabeth Santin , Paula Cristina Linder da Silva , Olair Beltrame and Edson Gonçalves de Oliveira 4 4 4 5 Aluna Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária da FCAV-Unesp, Jaboticabal, Brazil 1 Bolsista CNPq-Brazil 2 Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, FCAV-Unesp, Jaboticabal, Brazil 3 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil 4 Departamento de Zootecnia-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil 5 Abstract: The influences of age on hematological and serum biochemical parameters were investigated in juvenile ring-necked pheasant. Statistical comparisons were made for differences in values among different ages. A variety of blood parameters showed significantly age related differences. Juvenile ring- necked pheasants of all ages had lymphocytes as the major circulating leukocyte. RBC values for 60 day-old pheasants were lower than the values for 74, 88 and 102 day-old pheasants. The hemoglobin value was higher for 88 day-old pheasants. The WBC, the heterophil and the lymphocyte values were significantly higher for 60 day-old pheasants. Total serum protein, albumin and globulin values for 25 and 60 day-old pheasants were significantly lower than the values for 42, 88 and 102 day-old pheasants. Key words: Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, avian hematology, serum biochemistry Introduction The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758, Galliformes, Phasianidae) are birds, originally from Asia, introduced nearly worldwide including North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They are selected for breeding stock in many countries to produce high nutritive meat. Hematological and serum biochemical analyses may be used to detect organ dysfunction or disease and reports of bird blood ranges do not state age. Although blood analyses have been used to assess the health of several domestic birds species, limited information is available for young pheasants. This work was conducted to investigate hematological and serum biochemical values (uric acid, gamma glutamyl transferase, protein, albumin and globulins) of juvenile ring-necked pheasants to establish data on them presenting the effect of age on blood values. Materials and Methods The juvenile ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were allocated in experimental floor-pen housed, receiving water and feed ad libitum. The feed was formulated with corn and soybean according with NRC (1994) recommendations. Eight young pheasants were used in this study. Blood samples were obtained from these birds on days 25, 42, 60, 74, 88 and 102. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein on day 25. On days 42, 60, 74, 88 and 102 blood samples were collected from the ulnar superficial vein. Hematological analyses were performed on days 60, 74, 88 and 102. Total serum protein, albumin and globulins values were determined on days 25, 42, 60, 88 and 102. Serum uric acid and gamma glutamyl transferase values were determined on days 25, 74, 88 and 102. Aliquots of each blood sample were transferred immediately to a 2-ml glass tube containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for hematological analyses and to a 10-ml plain glass tube containing no anticoagulant for serum chemistry analyses. Thin smears were made immediately after the blood collection to avoid any interference on cell structure. The hematological analyses were performed according to Jain (1986). Total Red Blood Cells (RBC) and total White Blood Cells (WBC) counts were performed by a manual method using hemocytometer with blood diluted on 0.01% of toluidine blue stain. The hemoglobin concentration was measured by cyanmethemoglobin method. Microhematocrit centrifugation (2500 rpm for 5 minutes) was used to determine the Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Leukocyte differential counts were made on blood films stained with Wright´s stain, using average of 200 leukocytes. The serum chemistry parameters: uric acid, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), serum total protein and albumin were determined with an automated chemistry analyzer. The globulin value was determined by difference between serum total protein and albumin. The control of the chemical analysis was made using Qualitrol-N.