Comparison of Serum Chemistry Values in Inbred Duck (L103) White Tsaiya and Its Parent Stock of Brown Tsaiya Duck

Abstract

Normal serum chemistry values were determined and compared between an inbred duck, L103 White Tsaiya and its parent stock of Brown Tsaiya, a native breed of laying duck in Taiwan. Sera were collected from 50 L103 White Tsaiya and 50 Brown Tsaiya ducks from one day old to 6 months of ages, respectively. The ducks were grouped into 4 growing periods with age; brooding (0-4 wks), developing (5-9 wks), growing (10-15 wks) and laying (16-24 wks) periods. Ten serum chemistry values of total bilirubin (T. Bili), cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, inorganic phosphours (P), calcium (Ca), total protein (TP) and albumin, and 5 enzyme concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALA), creatnine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined for each serum sample. Most of the results agreed with those in the literature while ages of ducks were similar. When results obtained according to age, significant differences were noted among age groups. During the brooding period, the mean values of T. Bili, creatinine and ALT were higher in L103 White Tsaiya than those in Brown Tsaiya. However, the mean values of glucose, BUN, AST, CPK and LDH were lower in L103 White Tsaiya than those obtained from Brown Tsaiya. The mean values of TP and albumin were fairly similar in L103 white and Brown Tsaiya, and increased gradually with age. Serum enzyme concentrations were much higher in young ducks than adults indicating that the serum enzymes were much more activated during growing periods.