INTRODUCTION DIFFERENCES in body size, metabolic activity, feed intake, level of egg production and rate of thyroxine secretion have been the major physiological parameters used to differentiate the influence of the recessive sex-linked dwarf from the non-dwarf gene of the White Leghorn breed (Huston et al., 1962; Bernier and Arscott, 1966; Arscott and Bernier, 1968; and Rajaratnam et al., 1969). Little is known about the hematology of these birds as an adjunct to the differences in metabolic activity and production. An investigation of possible differences in hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations as well as other blood parameters between the dwarf and non-dwarf could further add to an appreciation of the physiological nature of the two strains of birds. The present study was therefore conducted to determine some blood constituents of the non-dwarf and dwarf strains of birds within the White Leghorn (W.L.) and White Rock (W.R.) breeds raised under similar conditions…
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Wood et al. (1971) studied this question.