Research Notes EFFECT OF CONSUMPTION OF SHAVINGS ON HEMATOLOGY OF TURKEY POULTS

ABSTRACT The effects of consumption of new wood shavings on hematology of turkey poults was studied in the response of groups fed commercial turkey starter rations with added folic acid, with wood shavings {ad libitum), with both or neither. There were no significant dif-ferences in the hematological parameters of mean cell volume, erythrocyte numbers, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration or mean cell hemoglobin concentration indicating that the consumption of new shavings was not related to a folic acid deficiency severe enough to cause the classical macrocytic anemia. The consumption of wood shavings used for litter for turkey poults may be high under certain environmental or man-agement conditions. Previous experiments (Charles, 1972) have suggested that feather and leg problems of turkey poults might be related to the consumption of old litter. Positive responses in growth rate, as well as bone and feather development were obtained with high levels of folic acid (80 mg./kg.). Since this level of dietary folic acid reduced the consump-tion of old litter an experiment was de-signed to study the effect of the consump-tion of new wood shavings on turkey poults. One of the characteristic symp-toms of folic acid deficiency is a macro-cytic, hypochromic anemia (Wintrobe, 1962). If the consumption of shavings resulted in a classical folic acid deficiency this should be evidenced by a macrocytic, hypochromic anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments each replicated three times with eight poults started i