Protein metabolism dynamics in Brown Nick cross chick

The aim of study was to determine the characteristics of protein metabolism in chickens from one day to 120 days of age. Blood was obtained from the axillary vein of 1-, 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day-old chickens in the morning; the concentration of total protein, albumin, globulins, uric acid and creatinine was analyzed using a Super Z automatic biochemical analyzer. In day-old chickens, the total protein content was 28.70 g/l; in subsequent age periods – 30-90 days – its content increased to 43 g/l and at the beginning of the productive period (120 days) it decreased to 37.53 g/l. In chickens from one day to 90 days of age, globulin fraction predominated; protein coefficient was in the range of 0.62-0.87. By the age of 120 days, due to the predominance of albumin, protein coefficient was 1.5 units. Uric acid levels decreased from 312.40 to 139.58 μmol/L between 1 day and 90 days of age, increasing to 305.20 μmol/L by the onset of egg production. Creatinine in day-old chicks was 40.54 μmol/L, decreasing by the 60th day and increasing significantly by 120th day, reaching 317.65 μmol/L. Thus, during pre-laying period and onset of egg production, the structure of the hens’ reproductive organs is formed, and physiological and biochemical processes in the body are restructured. The onset of egg production is a stressful event, accompanied by a decrease in total protein and globulin levels and an increase in serum albumin, the main transport link in the metabolic chain and egg formation. In addition, there is a significant increase in uric acid and creatinine concentrations, demonstrating the improvement of synthetic processes in the birds’ bodies and their adaptive plasticity.