MORPHOMETRIC FEATURES OF THE LIVER OF HENS OF CROSS ARBOR ICRES
The dynamics of morphometric parameters of the liver of broiler chickens of the Arbor Icres cross in postnatal ontogenesis was described. The stud- ies were conducted on the chickens of seven age groups: 1 day, 7 days, 14-, 21-, 28-, 35- and 42- days of age with ten heads in each group. It was revealed that the liver of the chickens consisted of the right, left lateral and left medial lobes. In 37 chickens (52.9 %) left medial and left lateral lobes were separated by tenderloin, and in 33 chickens (47.1 %) this tenderloin was not found. Two chickens (2.86 %) were noticed to have mirror arrangement of the lobes of the liver. It was probably abnormal development and did not affect functional state of the liver. The absolute mass of the liver of chickens from 1 day allowance to 42 days of age increased from 1.19 ± 0.04 to 50.44 ± 3.14 (P <0.001), i.e. by 42.37 times. Relative weight of the liver reached its maximum performance inchickens at the age of 14 days and was 3.42 ±0.06 %, then gradually decreased and at 42 days made 2.09 ± 0.07 %. Relative increase in the liver reached maximum values in the period from seven to fourteen days of age and amounted to 114.48 ±2.54 %. In subsequent period, this indicator started declining and reached 42 % of the age of 14.72 ±% (P <0.001). The most intensive growth of the liver was observed up to 14 days old, when the mass of the body increased 13.1 times, during this period the live weight of the chickens increased 8.9 times. In subsequent periods, the increase in body weight exceeded the growth of the liver. The largest growth ratio of linear dimensions in length had the right lobe, and left lateral in width.