INTERACTION EFFECT OF GENOTYPE AND DIETARY TREATMENT ON HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF PULLET CHICKENS

Abstract

An eight-week experiment was carried out to determine the interaction effect of genotype and dietary treatment on haematological indices of pullet chickens. 144 one-week pullet chicks (72 Isa brown and 72 FUNAAB alpha) were assigned to three treatments (antibiotic group, 1 % bitter leaf meal and 2 % bitter leaf meal) consisting of 3 replicates of 8 birds each, in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad libitum accompanied with standard management procedures. At the end of the eight weeks’ experimental period, blood samples were collected for haematological analysis. Data were analyzed using Fit Model of JMP Pro 15 and significant means were separated using Tukey HSD Test at 5 % level of probability. Results showed no significant (p>0.05) genotype × diet interaction effect on all the haematological indices evaluated. The absence of significant differences in the haematological indices in both FUNAAB Alpha and Isa brown is an indication of the similarity in the genetic constitution of both genotypes. However, the PCV, Hb and RBC values from the interaction of bitter leaf and FUNAAB alpha genotype were within the normal range while most of the PCV, Hb and RBC values from the interaction of bitter leaf and Isa brown genotype were not within the normal reference range. The findings of this study revealed insignificant genotype by dietary treatment interaction effect on the haematological indices of pullet chickens.