HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FINISHER BROILER BIRDS FED HIGH LEVELS OF LEMON GRASS LEAF MEAL

Abstract

The research was carried out to determine the effect of high levels of lemon grass leaf meal on the haematological and biochemical characteristics of finisher broiler birds. A total number of ninety six, four weeks old. ―Agric-tech‖ broiler birds were randomly distributed into four dietary treatments,
each replicated three times with eight birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four diets were formulated such that the lemon grass leaf meal was incorporated into the diets at the rate of 1.25%, 2.50% and 3.75% respectively, while treatment 1 served as the control with 0% level of
lemon grass leaf meal. Feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the experimental period of twenty eight days. Proximate analysis of the lemon grass leaf meal and the experimental diets were carried out accordingly. The values obtained for haematological indices namely, packed cell volume,
haemoglobin, red blood cell and white blood cell were all significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the lemon grass leaf mean across the treatment groups. Also the results of the biochemical indices revealed that the data obtained for total protein, albumin, creatinine and urea differed (p<0.05) across
the treatment groups. Thus all values obtained were within the recommended range of values for normal broiler birds. It can however be concluded that the inclusion of high level of lemon grass leaf meal in the diet of broiler finisher had significant (p<0.05) effect on the birds blood profile.
Keywords: Haematological indices, biochemical indices, finisher broiler birds, high levels, lemon grass leaf meal.