Abstract

This study was carried out to establish the serum biochemical values of turkey (Meleagridis gallopova) as well as determine the sex, age and breed effects on these characters. Blood samples collected in the morning from each turkey at 6^th and 12^th week of age, comprising of 60 black and 45 white breeds were used in this study. Total protein, albumin and alkaline phosphate means were 5.56±0.15, 2.5±0.1 and 26.44±1.55 g/dl respectively. Cholesterol, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) means were 161±2.83 mg/dl, 74.87±1.87 U/L and 17.86±1.33 U/L respectively while globulin had a mean of 3.16±0.2 mg/dl. The mean total protein value (4.81±0.17 and 6.38±0.28 g/dl) of black and white breeds respectively indicated significant difference (P<0.05). Albumin, cholesterol and globulin values also indicated significant difference (P<0.05) between the breeds, while alkaline phosphate, AST and ALT showed no significant difference (P<0.05) between the breeds. The mean total protein, albumin, globulin and AST of the turkeys revealed significant difference (P<0.05) between ages 6 and 12 weeks while alkaline phosphate, cholesterol and ALT showed no significant (P>0.05) difference between the ages.  Sex generally had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the characters.

Key words:  Turkeys, serum, age, breed, sex, biochemical values.