EFFECT OF DIFFERENT CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS SOURCES ON SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

8weeks study was carried out to evaluate the serum biochemistry of broiler chickens at finisher phase. Birds were fed commercial diet (T1) as control and different dietary sources of calcium and phosphorus mineral nutrients in on-farm formulated diets fortified with bone meal (T2), egg shell meal (T3) and limestone (T4). Ninety six unsexed broiler birds were raised through the starter phase (week 1-4) to the finishers phase (week 4-8) before random allotment into the four treatment groups. The experimental diets were fed to four groups of 24 broilers and each treatment group was replicated thrice of 8 birds in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experimental model. Data obtained were subjected to statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result obtained at the end of the experiment showed that birds on egg shell meal, bone meal and limestone competed favorably (P<0.05) with the birds on control diet (commercial feed) in all the serum biochemical parameters measured; in terms of total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and createnine except calcium (T4) which may be attributed to the amount of calcium in limestone without supplemental phosphorus source. It may be concluded from this study that Eggshell meal and Bone meal are excellent sources of calcium and phosphorous minerals, for good serum biochemistry and overall performance of broilers. However, limestone should be accompanied with readily available source of phosphorus for adequate calcium and phosphorus balance for better feed utilization.