Performance and Hematological Profile of Broiler Chicks on Toasted Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus) Treated With Bakery Yeast

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was carried out at the Animal Production Research and Teaching farm, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji, Owerri, to determine the performance characteristics and haematological parameters of broilers starter chicks fed toasted Tiger nut treated with bakery yeast. A total of one hundred and twenty unsexed day old broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery at Ibadan were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate in a General linear Model Procedure using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientist) Design. The result of the study showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in feed intake and some haematological parameters notably Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (HB), Red blood cells (RBC), White blood cells (WBC), Mean cell volume (MCV), Mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) while feed cost was cheapest among treatment groups on 25% (T2) dietary level of tiger nut meal. The findings of this experiment suggested that tiger nut meal can replace maize up to 25% dietary level to boost growth, maximize profit and permeates stable physiology and normal cellular metabolism in the body of broiler chicks.