IMPACT OF SELECTED PLANT LEAF EXTRACTS ON HAEMATOLOGY OF BROILER CHICKS

Résumé

The effect of some leaf extracts (Cortus afer, Jatropha curcas and Psidium guajava) delivered in drinking water on the haematology of broiler chickens was assessed using 120 broiler chicks randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups consisting of 30 birds per treatment, subdivided into 10 birds per replicate in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment. The treatments were T1 or control (water + proprietary organic tonic), T2 (water + Costus afer leaf extract), T3 (water + Jatropha curcas leaf extract) and T4 (water + Psidium guajava leaf extract). On the last day of the 5-week study, blood samples from the birds were analysed for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCHC, MCH and MCV. Results revealed that PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCHC, MCH and MCV values ranged from 28.20–32.84%, 10.34–12.62g/dL, 2.62–3.76 (x106/mm3), 20.09–25.46(x103/mm3), 102.59–122.70fl, 31.86–34.62% and 40.06–44.04pg, respectively. There were significant (p<0.05) differences for all indices measured. The values were normal for all the groups. It can be recommended that poultry farmers use Jatropha curcas leaf extract in drinking water (T3) for broiler birds to improve their haematological
markers.