HEAMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF LAYING HENS FED GRADED LEVEL OF PALM BUNCH ASH AS A MINERAL SOURCE

Abstract

In producing plant ash, the organic components of the material which ordinarily interact with the mineral molecule to reduce their bioavailability are completely eliminated. The end product may therefore successfully replace intact plant and rock mineral sources in animal and human diets when properly processed. Ash derived from the combustion of various parts of the palm tree such as trunk, inflorescence, bunch and leaves have been analyzed and shown to contain excellent levels of essential minerals, especially potassium, which also makes the ash highly alkaline. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the hematology and serum biochemistry of laying hens fed graded levels of palm bunch ash as mineral source. Empty palm bunches were used for the study. It was cleaned, sundried and burnt to produce palm bunch ash (PBA). It was analyzed for mineral concentration using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Two hundred and forty Isa brown layer birds that were 16 weeks into lay were used to assess the hematological and serum biochemical indices when fed with graded levels of PBA that lasted for 12 weeks. They were divided into four groups of 60 birds each
and further replicated three times in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 20 birds per replicate. Four experimental layer diets were formulated such that the control diets had no PBA while the other three diets had graded levels of PBA supplementation in the diets at 0. 10, 0.15 and 0.2kg/100kg of feed respectively in replacement of common salt. Proximate and mineral analysis of the feeds were determined. Blood samples were collected to determine hematological and serum biochemical characteristics. The 0.1kg/100kg diet (T2) supplemented group recorded significantly higher Hb, and PCV values than the control, and the other supplementation groups. Lipid profile results obtained in the study showed that triglyceride, especially the high-density lipoprotein (HDL), decreased in values as the PBA supplementation level increased except at T4. These positive results were supported by superior hematological and serum biochemical indices of T2 and T3 birds.