Changes in Concentrations of Various Blood Plasma Parameters and Hormones as Influenced by Induced Molt in White Leghorn Layers

Spent layers of 128 weeks age from a White Leghorn (Babcock) layer tlock were induced to molt by withdrawal of feed for 14 days. The birds lost approximately 29.64% of their body weight. The blood samples were collected at pre-molt, post-molt and peak production stages. Maximum concentrations of cholesterol and glucose were observed at pre-molt and minimum at post-molt stage. Urea, protein and globulin showed maximum concentration at post-molt and minimum at peak production. Concentration of albumin was maximum at peak production and minimum at post-molt stage. Feed deprivation was followed by ovarian atrophy which significantly decreased the oestradiol (51. 9 ± 1. 2 pg/mL) and progesterone (13 .5 ±0.8 mg/mL) concentration at the post-molt stage and a significant increase ( 164.6±4.6 pg/mL) and (27.1 ± 1.0 ng/mL) was observed. respectively at the peak production stage. It was concluded from this study that molting process significantly affect the concentrations of various biochemical and hormonal parameters indicating that the changes are related to various stages of molt and have substantial impact on the egg production.