Dynamics of protein and purine metabolism parameters of ducks by age and sex

Abstract

The blood composition of poultry is a labile system that reflects the activity of metabolic processes in the organism. The study of morphological and functional changes occurring in the body of ducks in postnatal ontogenesis is an urgent area and is important for breeding birds of this species, as it serves as a scientific basis for the diagnosis and prediction of various forms of pathologies. The article presents data on the age-related dynamics of metabolic parameters of blood serum in ducks of the Cherry-Veli cross. The authors determined the content of total protein, protein fractions, uric acid, creatinine in the blood serum of ducks of both sexes at the age of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 weeks. In each age group, 45-50 animals were examined. There is a pronounced pattern of fluctuations in protein metabolism, depending on age and gender. It has been proven that ducks have a clear age-related dynamics of protein metabolism indicators: with age, there is an increase in the content of total protein, protein fractions (albumin, α-, β- and γ-globulins), an increase in protein metabolism in the serum of females in the pre-lay period, and also at the beginning of the productive period, which is due to the mobilization of the body for the formation of egg components. The authors found that sexual dimorphism is expressed in the content of total protein albumin, α-, β- and γ-globulins, starting from puberty (from 105-126 days of age), and fluctuations in the main indicators of purine metabolism (uric acid and creatinine) in terms of age and sex expressed slightly.