EVALUATION OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF DIRECT FED MICROBES ON THE BLOOD ' CONSTITUENTS AND SERUM CHEMISTRY OF BROILER BIRDS

Abstract

A 56 days study was carried out using a total of 96-day-old breed of Ross 308 to evaluate the dietary inclusion of Direct Fed Microbes (DF. M) on the blood constituents and serum chemistry of broiler chicken. There were twenty-four birds in each treatment and eight birds per replicate. Four experimental diets was formulated which include T] (0% DFM), T2 (2.5% DFM), T3 (5% DFM) and T4 (7.5% DFM) .Feed and water were given ad libitum throughout the duration of the experiment which lasted 56 days. Blood and serum profile of the experimental broiler birds were evaluated. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results showed that no significant differences (p> 0.05) were observed in haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCY), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The WBC: portrayed a decreasing trend as the level of DFM increased. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in total serum protein and globulin, whereas, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in serum albumin, glucose, urea and creatinine. The 2.5% DFM recorded the most significant value in total serum protein. The trial diets (T2, T3, and T4, generally recorded higher serum protein value than the control diet (T1,). It is apparent from this study that T2, which revealed the highest serum protein, lower urea value compared to the control and highest immune response based on its highest white blood cell count, could be considered for adoption by farmers in the diets of broiler chickens