EFFECTS OF GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) MEAL ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUMBIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA)

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the haematological and serum biochemical indices of Japanese quails fed graded levels of garlic meal. A total of 372 (three hundred and seventy-two) two weeks old Japanese quails of mixed sexes (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments of ninety three (93) birds each, and were replicated three times in a completely randomized design with thirty-one (31) birds per replicate. They were fed four experimental diets containing 0g, 250g, 500g and 750g garlic meal. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Blood samples were collected at six weeksold of growth phase into two sets of labelled sterile bottles and used for blood analyses. There sults showed that birds fed 750g of garlic in the diet had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for all the haematological parameters. Birds fed 750g garlic meal had significantly (p<0.05) higher values for albumin, globulin and lower glucose and cholesterol values. However, it was observed that the values for both haematological and blood serum
biochemical indices fell within the normal values. It was concluded that at 750g garlic inclusion there were no adverse effect on haematological and blood serum biochemical indices. Keywords: Japanese quail, garlic meal, haematological parameters, biochemical indices, dietary levels.