Changes in concentration and fractions of blood serum proteins of chickens during fattening

This paper describes research into concentration of total proteins and individual protein fractions in the blood serum of Ross broiler chickens during fattening period. Blood for analysis was taken at the 14th, 28th and 42nd days of age by wing vein puncture. Concentration of total serum proteins was detected by spectrophotometry. Electrophoresis on gelled cellulose-acetate tapes determined the shares of individual fractions: albumins, alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, beta 2and gamma globulins, and their absolute concentrations were calculated from the concentration of total proteins. A statistically significant growth of total proteins concentration was established during the experiment (P<0.0001). Changes of concentration of individual fractions did not always follow the quantity of total proteins in the blood serum. Concentration of albumins in blood did not show oscillations during fattening, unlike alpha 1-globulins, whose concentration showed a statistically significant increase by the 28th day of fattening (P<0.0001), and which then decreased considerably by the 42nd day compared to the 28th day (P<0.05). Concentration of alpha 2-globulins did not show significant growth until the 42nd day in comparison to the 14th day (P<0.01). Fractions of beta 1-, beta 2and gamma globulins showed a significant increase during all trial periods (from P<0.05 to P<0.0001). The ratio of albumins to globulins showed a statistically significant decrease on the 28th and the 42nd days, compared to the 14th day of the experiment (P<0.0001). The given results are related to the role of protein metabolism in the rapid growth of chickens during fattening, and may serve as part of metabolic profile in evaluation of production patterns and health condition of chickens during fattening.