Blood Biochemical Profile of Males and Females of Three Indigenous Chicken Ecotypes in Sudan

An experiment was conducted to study sex and Strain effects of three indigenous Sudanese chicken ecotypes on biochemical blood profile. Sixty chickens (30 males and 30 females) from Large Beladi, Betwil and Bare Neck ecotype were reared in the experimental units of the Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum. Chickens were tested at mature ages (1.5-2.0 years) to evaluate biochemical blood profile. Plasma total protein, albumin, cholesterol, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium were assessed. The values of plasma total protein, inorganic phosphorus, uric acid, sodium and potassium were significantly (P < 0.05) different among the three ecotypes. However, the values of albumin, calcium and cholesterol were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among the three ecotypes. On the other hand, sex significantly (p < 0.05) affected uric acid and Potassium blood levels. While total protein, calcium, Phosphorus, Cholesterol and Albumin were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by sex. In the Bare Neck ecotype uric acid and Potassium were both significantly (p < 0.05) affected by sex. Total protein, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, albumin and sodium, were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by sex. In the Large Beladi ecotype uric acid and albumin were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by sex. Total protein, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, sodium and potassium were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by sex in this ecotype. The results are an important step in the characterization of indigenous ecotypes of Sudan.