Hens were decapitated and the trunk blood collected in lithium-heparin coated vials and stored on ice. Immediately, following decapitation and blood collection the liver, heart, and kidney were dissected whole, and a 30-g skeletal muscle sample was obtained from the pectoralis major. The tissues were rinsed, patted dry, frozen on dry ice, and transferred to a −80°C freezer for storage until analysis.