COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF HERBAL FEED ADDITIVES ON HEAMATO LOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of some herbal plant extracts used as alternative growth promoters on hematology and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Four different phytogenic plants were collected i.e. Moringa oleifera, Senna occidentalis, Cassia tora and Vynonia amagdylina leaf aqueous extract as feed additives. A measured (50mls/litre of water) quantity of the filtrate according to the experimental treatment was added to water and served to the birds while keprocyl pawder was given as positive control. One hundred and twenty armor broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five treatments. Each of the treatment was replicated four times (six birds per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). At the end of the eight weeks experiment, hematological and serum biochemical evaluation were carried out. Results of hematology showed that there were significant differences in packed cell volume (PCV) (19.00-29.50), white blood cells (208.20-267.05), and red blood cell (1.76-2.51). Serum creatine (36.59-47.21), glucose (10.34-12.46) and total protein (26.93-32.68)were affected by the treatments. It was concluded that phytogenic leaf extracts can be fed to broilers as a feed additive without deleterious effects on hematology and serum biochemical parameters.