Haematological and Serum Biochemical Indices of Finisher Broilers Fed Spondias mombin Leaf Meal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Spondias mombin leaf meal on the blood indices of broiler finisher birds. Spondias mombin leaf meal was used to formulate four broiler finisher rations at 0.0%, 5.0%, 10.0% and 15.0% inclusion levels. Four groups of fifteen broiler chicks (28 days old) of Agrited breed were randomly assigned to four treatment diets in a completely randomized design and fed for 28 days. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates of five birds each. At the end of the feeding trial, blood was collected from three birds per treatment for haematological and biochemical analysis. Results showed that the haemoglobin and the red blood cells were significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 10.0 and 15.0% dietary levels compared to the control. The packed cell volume and the neutrophils were significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 15.0% dietary level. Cholesterol was significantly decreased at 10.0 and 15.0% dietary levels. It was therefore concluded that, Spondias mombin leaf meal was not toxic to the blood of finisher broilers and therefore could be incorporated into broiler finisher ration up to 15.0% level without any damage to the blood.