Evaluation of blood lipids in two major Nigerian indigenous chickens, Kuroiler and their crossbreds

Abstract

This study evaluated the blood lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein). In the study, 18 chickens each of Naked Neck (NN), Normal Feather (NF), Kuroiler (KR) and their crossbreds were used. They were reared under the same environment and management. Chickens were slaughtered and blood samples were taken at 24 weeks of age, the serum was harvested by centrifugation, and then the total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were assayed using an enzymatic kit, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were determined using the Friedwald equation. The results obtained indicated that genotype significantly differed (p<0.01) in TCH, TG and HDL levels. Sexwisely, males had significantly higher (p<0.01) levels of TCH (96.99 ± 8.78 mg/dL), TG (102.98 ± 11.15 mg/dL) and LDL (52.11 ± 2.12 mg/dL) in all the genotypes than its female counterpart. Furthermore, NN progenies recorded the lowest values in all parameters studied, TCH (61.44 ± 5.09 mg/dL), TG (61.23 ± 19.46 mg/dL), HDL (26.84 ± 4.04 mg/dL) and LDL (32.55 ± 14.10 mg/dL). The TCH and TG were low in both NN and NF chickens but the HDL and LDL were very low in NN birds while the level of cholesterol and fat was high in the pure exotic breed and low in the crossbred progenies. The reported lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations are reflected in their concentrations in blood and protect human beings from atherosclerosis. Therefore, estimation of blood lipid in these birds is recommended for future study.