Haematological and Serum Biochemical Indices of Layer Chickens Fed Cassava Pulp Based Diets Supplemented with Morinda (Morinda lucida) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) Leaf Meals

Abstract

There is dearth of information on the effects of varying levels of inclusion of morinda and neem leaf meals on the blood profile of layer chickens fed cassava pulp based diets. A total of ninety (90) 73-weeks-old Nera black layers were allotted to five treatments containing 18 birds each with six replicates per treatment and fed for 8 weeks with diets containing no leaf meals, 2.5% and 5.0% morinda leaf meal (MLM), and 2.5% and 5.0% neem leaf meal (NLM). At the end of 8 weeks, blood samples were collected and analysed for haematological and serum biochemical indices. Data were analysed using 2x3 factorial arrangement of variance and means separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test of the same software package at p<0.05. MLM and NLM produced significant (p>0.05) interaction effects on packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), platelet count, lymphocytes, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values. NLM favoured more platelet count at 5.0% level of inclusion than MLM. PCV, RBC, lymphocyte and MCHC were higher in birds fed MLM than NLM at corresponding levels of inclusion. There were significant interaction effects of leaf meals and their level of inclusions on aspartate aminotransaminase, serum glucose, urea and total protein. Serum glucose was significantly higher (p<0.05) and total protein and albumins were significantly reduced (p<0.05). However, both MLM and NLM did not affect physiological health and thus, were not hepatotoxic.