Sample Collection

On week 4 and 8, two birds selected from each replicate were weighed and sacrificed, and then blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into EDTA vacutainers. Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C, then plasma was separated and kept at −80°C for further analysis. Feathers, livers, kidneys, ovaries, and oviducts were dissected from the birds for weighing. After weighing the liver, the middle lobe of the liver was collected into a 2 mL micro tube and kept at −20°C to analyze the lead and mercury concentrations.