Toxicity of dietary lead in young cockerels
Franson, J.C.; Custer, T.W.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology 24(6): 421-423
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-6296 PMID: 7179714 Document Number: 185273
One-day-old cockerels received 1850 mg lead per kg starter mash for four weeks. Blood delta -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was reduced to 1.6% of control activity by the end of the study. Haemoglobin concentration in lead-exposed cockerels was significantly less than that of controls at 7, 14, and 28 days, and packed cell volume was significantly reduced at 14 days. Blood lead residues reached 832 mu g/dl in exposed cockerels; kidney residues were about three times liver residues. At the termination of the study mean body weight of lead-exposed birds was 47% of controls.