Hematological parameters and antibody titers to new castle diseases and avian influenza on extensive and semi-intensive system

Abstract

The study evaluated the hematological parameters and antibody titers against Newcastle Disease (ND) and Avian Influenza (AI) on native chickens under extensive and semi-intensive rearing in Central Java, Indonesia. The target of the study was native chickens in Banyumas and Kebumen areas. The chickens were reared extensive and semi-intensively. The survey method was carried out by drawing 324 chicken blood samples for hematological tests and measuring antibody titer to ND and AI. The data obtained were analyzed using a general linear model (GLM) with the Systat ver.13 program. The results showed that native chicken in extensive and semi-intensive systems had different physiological statuses (P<0.05). The number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit values, total plasma protein levels, and heterophil-lymphocyte ratios was higher on semi-intensive than extensive system. However, the number of leucocytes was relatively high the same (P>0.05). In extensive system rearing, the number of native chickens with effective antibody titers against ND and AI was higher than the semi-intensive. The study concluded that native chickens reared in semi-intensive systems had a healthier physiological status than chickens in extensive systems. However, the effective antibody titers against ND and AI in the extensive and semi-intensive systems were still very low.