EVALUATION OF HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF FINISHER BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING Calapogonium mucunoides LEAF MEAL SUPPLEMENTED WITH YEAST (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate haematological indices of finisher broiler chickens fed diets containing Calapogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast (Saccharomyces  cerevisiae). A total of 150 unsexed Agrited Anak finisher broiler chickens at 4 weeks of age were used for the study. They were divided into 5 treatments of 30 broiler chickens per treatment. Each treatment group was subdivided into three replicates with 10 chickens per replicate. Five experimental finisher broiler chicken diets were formulated such that ground sun-dried Calapogonium mucuoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast was used to replace soyabean meal in the control diet at 0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively. The birds were assigned the experimental diets using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The blood of the experimental finisher broiler chickens was evaluated. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result of the red blood cells (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) showed that the finisher broiler chickens fed 25% Calapogonium mucunoides leaf meal (diet 5) supplemented with yeast were significantly different (P < 0.05) and higher than the remaining treatment groups. The RBC (Red Blood Cell) of finisher broiler chickens‘ diets 5, 25% CLM, diet 3 (15% CLM) and diet 2 (10% CLM) were similar and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the remaining groups in the finisher broiler chickens. The Red Blood Cells (RBC) and the White Blood Cells (WBC) differ significantly (P < 0.05) in the finisher broiler chickens. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in the mean cell haemoglobin of the finisher broiler chickens in the treatment diets. The group on the control diet recorded the highest MCH which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in other groups. It was concluded in this study that treatment 5(25% Calapogonium mucunoides supplemented with yeast) which revealed high white blood cell (WBC), high packed cell volume (PCV), high red blood cells (RBC) could be considered for adoption by farmers in the diets of finisher broiler chickens.