Effects of estrogen on blood volume and hemoglobin in immature pullets

¹ Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Queensland Veterinary School, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane, Australia

Blood volume was determined on immature Leghorn pullets 14–16 weeks of age, before and after administration of 18 mg of estradiol benzoate over a period of 14 days. Results show that estrogen increases plasma volume and it is suggested that this mechanism is also responsible for the marked fall in hemoglobin/100 ml of blood which occurs when pullets come into lay.