EFFECT OF MISTLETOE LEAF MEAL ON THE HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS IN THE SEMI-ARID REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Feeding trial was conducted to investigate the nutritional value of Mistletoe leaf meal (MLM) (Tapinanthus bangwensis) as feed resource using two hundred and twenty five (225) day old chicks. MLM was usedat graded levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% . The birds were randomly allotted to the five diets in groups of forty five (45) each and replicated thrice of fifteen (15) birds. Conventional management practices were strictly adhered to. A set of 2 ml blood samples were taken from 3 broilers per treatment into plastic tubes containing the anti-coagulant ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and the other bottle without the anticoagulant for the determination of haematological and serum biochemical parameters respectively. The haematology includes PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC while the serum biochemistry includes total protein, albumin, globulin glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, electrolyte constituents, ALAT and ALAT. Data on haematological and serum biochemical indices were analysed using completely randomized design and significant means were separated using least significant difference. The results for the haematology revealed non-significant (P>0.005) differences among the dietary treatment groups for PCV, Hb concentration, RBC count, and WBC count. The parameters evaluated are all within the recommended haematological range values for broiler
chickens. The result obtained in this study revealed that there were no significant (P>0.05) differences for the serum biochemical indices (total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, sodium, calcium and ALAT) among the treatment groups. However there were significant (P<0.005) differences for urea, potassium and ASAT among the treatment groups. The values however, did not follow any definite trend.It is concluded that inclusion of MLM in the diets of broiler chickens will support optimum performance and does not cause deleterious effect on the health status of broiler chickens.