Sex-related differences in hemato-biochemical indices of adult Vanaraja chickens during summer and winter seasons

Glucose Tolerance and Plasma Non-Esterified Fatty Acid Levels in Chickens Selected for Low Body Weight, Red Junglefowl, and their Reciprocal Cross

Responses of an individual to food deprivation, such as a 16-h fast, are complex, and are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Domestication is an ongoing process during which adaptations to changing environments occur over generations. Food deprivation by their caretakers is less for domestic chickens than for their junglefowl ancestors. Unlike domestic chicken, the junglefowl adapted over generations to periods of food deprivation, which may be reflected in differences in metabolic responses to brief periods without food. Here, we compared the blood glucose and plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) among four populations when deprived of feed for 16 h. The four populations included a domestic White Rock experimental line (LWS) maintained for generations under ad libitum feeding, adult red junglefowl (RJF), and a reciprocal cross of the lines. Although there were significant differences in adult (31-week) body weight between the RJF (683 g) and LWS (1282 g), with the weight of F₁ crosses being intermediate, the amount of abdominal fat relative to body weight was similar for all populations. Patterns for blood glucose responses to a glucose bolus after a 16-h fast were similar for the initial and final points in the parental and cross populations. However, RJF reached their peak faster than LWS, with the reciprocal cross intermediate to the parental populations. Plasma NEFA concentrations were higher after the 16-h fast than in fed states, with no population differences for the fasting state. However, in the fed state, NEFA levels were lesser for LWS than for others, which was reflected further in percentage change from fed to fasted. This larger change in LWS suggests differences in mobilization of energy substrates and implies that during domestication or development of the LWS line, thresholds for responses to acute stressors may have increased.

Comparison of Rajasri birds with indigenous birds in performance and haemo biochemical parameters under scavenging system during summer season

Performance and haemo-biochemical parameters of Rajasri and Indigenous birds of northern region of Telangana state were studied under scavenging system of rearing. The overall mean body weight was significantly (P≤0.05) higher in Rajasri birds than indigenous birds from 6th to 52nd weeks of age. The mean age at sexual maturity was recorded as 172 days in case of Rajasri birds and in indigenous chicken it was recorded as 219 days. The mean egg production and egg weights of Rajasri bird from 32 to 52 weeks of age were significantly (P≤0.05) higher than indigenous birds. There was significantly (P<0.05) higher fertility and hatchability percent noticed in indigenous fowl compared to Rajasri birds. There was no significant difference noticed in total protein, SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin, calcium, phosphorus and blood glucose however there was significant difference in Haemoglobin, PCV, MCH, MCHC and serum cholesterol at 21st week of age.