PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF PULLET CHICKS FED DIETS CONTAINING Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amgydalina LEAF MEAL-BASED DIETS

Abstract

Blood reflects the pathological status of animals exposed to toxicants and other conditions. Blood examination helps to clinically investigate the presence of metabolites and other constituents in the body of animals and plays vital roles in the physiological, nutritional and pathological status of animals. Blood constituents change in relation to the physiological status of an animal. A total of 144 one-day-old Isa-brown pullet chicks were randomly picked, weighed and distributed to the 4 diets with 4 replicates of 9 chicks each from a total of 357 one-day-old Isa-brown pullet chicks in a completely randomized design (CRD). Four feeds were formulated to meet the NRC requirement and while TI was the control, T2, T3 and T4 contained 2% of Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amgydalina leaf meals respectively. At the end of the experiment which lasted for 8 weeks 2 birds were randomly selected from each replicate for haematological and serum biochemical examination. All the haematological parameters measured were not significant (P>0.05) except eosinophils and for serum biochemistry cholesterol and albumin globulin ratio were significantly different (P<0.05). The highest value (3.50%eosinophils) was observed in the birds on diet 4 which had 2% of Vernonia amgydalina leaf meal and these birds also had the lowest (139.25 mg/dl) cholesterol value. It was therefore concluded that 2% of these leaf meals especially of Vernonia amgydalina can be incorporated in the diets of pullet chicks to reduce their blood cholesterol and boost their immunity.