SERUM AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS FED ROASTED OR SOAKED NON-DECORTICATED BAOBAB (Adansonia digitata) SEED BASED DIETS

Abstract

Baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed, a by-product of baobab fruit processing, has been identified as a potential feed ingredient due to its high protein and energy content. However, its use in poultry diets is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs). This study investigated the effects of feeding broiler chickens with processed (roasted and soaked) non-decorticated baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed-based diets on their serum and haematological indices. A total of 196 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments over six weeks. The inclusion levels of roasted and soaked baobab seed meal ranged from 0% to 15%. Blood samples were collected to assess biochemical and haematological parameters post-experiment. Results indicated that serum biochemical indices, including total protein and albumin, showed no significant (p>0.05) differences among treatments, suggesting effective nutrient utilization. However, significant (p>0.05) variations were observed in white blood cell counts, indicative of immune status. The study highlighted the positive correlation between processing methods and the nutritional value of baobab seeds, supporting their viability as alternative feed ingredients in poultry diets. The findings suggest that processed baobab seeds can enhance dietary quality without adverse effects on the health of broilers. Further research can adopt other processing methods aside roasting and soaking to mitigate the effects of antinutritional factors present in Adansonia digitata seed meal to improve its utilization in broiler diets.