EFFECTS OF CRUDE OR SYNTHETIC ENZYMES ON THE HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES OF BROILER FINISHER CHICKENS FED GROUNDNUTCOWPEA SHELL BASED DIETS

Abstract

A 28 day assessment of the effects of crude or synthetic enzymes on the haematology and biochemical variables of broiler chickens (Cobb 500) fed groundnut-cowpea shells meal (GCSM) based diet was conducted using a total of two hundred and forty birds randomly allotted to five dietary treatments replicated four times with 12 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Diet T1 had 0% GCSM: 0%dried rumen content (DRC), 0% mushroom and 0ppm synthetic enzyme and served as the control; diet T2 had 25% GCSM, 0% DRC, 0% mushroom, and 0ppm enzyme; diet T3 contained 25% GCSM, 5% DRC, 0% mushroom and 0ppm synthetic enzyme; Diet T4 contained 25% GCSM, 5% mushroom 0% DRC and 0ppm synthetic enzyme and diet T5 had 25% inclusion of GCSM, 200ppm synthetic enzyme, 0% DRC and 0% mushroom. Feed and water. The haematological indices revealed no significant differences (P>0.05) except in PCV, MCH and MCHC and serum biochemistry indices showed significantly (P<0.05) different only in albumin (g/l) and total cholesterol (ml/l).