Authors : Peng Xie, Shengyong Fu, Zhu Bu, Hai-Bing Tong and Jian-Min Zou
Abstract: In the current study, dynamic changes of digestive enzymes’ activities, concentrations of growth factors and immnueglobulin of pigeon squabs under different ages and parental sex were investigated. Totally 90 squabs at post-hatching day 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 were sampled. The result showed that the specific activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase were all increased significantly with the increase of age while the total enzymes’ activities showed a different pattern. Parental sex has no effect on the activities of digestive enzymes. The concentrations of EGF and IGF-1 in crop milk of squabs were decreased from 2-8 days. Both of the two under the breeding of male parent pigeon had a sharp increase at 10 days and were significant higher than that under the breeding of female parent pigeon. No significant changes were observed in IgG level under the breeding of male and female parent pigeon over 10 days. Like mammals, there was probably a compensatory mechanism in crop milk which would be promotion for the development of squabs in the early stage.
Peng Xie, Shengyong Fu, Zhu Bu, Hai-Bing Tong and Jian-Min Zou, 2013. Effects of Age and Parental Sex on Digestive Enzymes, Growth Factors and Immuneglobulin of Pigeon Squab. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 932-936.