Effect of Earth Ball (Icaciania manni) Processed in Saline on Hematological and Serum Biochemical Indices of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Eight – week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of 10% and 20% replacement of maize with Icacinia manni meal processed in saline on the haematology and serum biochemistry of broilers. Three experimental diets were formulated in which Icacinia manni processed in saline replaced maize at 0% for T1 (control), 10 and 20% for T2 and T3 respectively. The replacements were the same for starter and finisher phases. One hundred and twenty day old chicks of Arbor Acre were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments with 12 replicates of ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Haematology and serum biochemistry analysis showed no significant differences (p>0.05) at the end of the experiment except for total protein. The values for 10 and 20% Icacinia manni processed in saline group were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control. The study revealed that Icacinia manni processed in saline can replace 20% maize in broiler diets without detrimental effect on haematology and serum biochemistry.