Haematological and morphometrical analysis of blood cells of Khaki Campbell duck ( Anas platyrhynchos ) in different age groups with respect to sexual dimorphism

This study attempts to analyse haematology and morphometry of blood cells of Khaki Campbell duck. A total of three age groups (ducklings, growers, and adults) were considered and maintained at State Livestock Breeding Farm, Chiplima, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. Hb, total erythrocyte count (TEC), and packed cell volume (PCV) of adult birds differ significantly (p < 0.01) with those of other such groups and MCHC of adult females is significantly different (p < 0.01) from that of grower males. Total leukocyte count (TLC) reflects high significant difference (p < 0.01) between ducklings and other age groups, whereas DLC does not show any significant difference. Out of the morphometrical parameters, length, breadth and area of RBC and eosinophils, breadth of lymphocytes, L/B ratio of RBC, lymphocytes, heterophils and basophils, nuclear L/B ratio of erythrocytes and lymphocytes and N:C ratio of RBC and lymphocytes have significant difference (p < 0.01) among and between groups. But area of lymphocyte, length of heterophil, and breadth of basophil differ at p < 0.05 level.