HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER FINISHERS FED DIETS CONTAINING CASSAVA PEEL MEAL (CPM).

Abstract

A 56-day study was carried out to evaluate the haematological and biochemical characteristics of broiler finisher fed cassava peel meal (CPM).Ninety six (96) day old chicks were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly divided into four (4) treatment groups with three replicates containing 8 birds each in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). The experimental diets were formulated to contain 0% cassava peel meal (T1) control, 5% (T2), 10% (T3) and 15% (T4) respectively. Feed and water were served ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. Data were collected for haematological and biochemical parameters. Haematological parameters include RBC, WBC, PCV, Hb, MCHC, MCH and MCV, while serum biochemical parameters include urea, total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, cholesterol, and glucose. Result of the biochemical parameters showed that urea values on the control (18.94mg/dl) was significantly
higher (P<0.05) than on the diet with 10% CPM (7.73mg/dl) only. Cholesterol values on the 5%CPM was significantly lower (P<0.05) than values on diet with 10%CPM (161.92) and that with 15%CPM (180.13 mg/dl). However, birds on the 15%CPM had significantly higher cholesterol values than on the other diets and on the control. Birds on 10%CPM had significantly lower albumin values (10.40g/l) than those on the control (13.38), 5% CPM (13.50) and 15%CPM (17.37g/l). Values for creatinine, glucose, globulin and total protein did not vary significantly (P>0.05) across the diets. None of the haematological parameters measured differed significantly across the diets indicating that the birds were healthy. However, the inclusion of processed CPM at 10% of the diet is recommended to minimize cholesterol intake by man