A Study on Serum Biochemical Analysis “Broiler” Feed Diets Containing Graded Levels of Locust Beans (Parkia biglobosa) Seed Meal in Poultry Production and Research Unit of the Department of Animal Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out evaluate the effects of feeding locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) seed at graded levels on the serum biochemistry of “broilers”. Two hundred and forty broilers were used which were randomly allocated to four treatment groups, each replicated four times in a completely randomized design. The diets consisted of 0% level of LBSM which served as experimental control, while other three diets includes; 5, 10, and 15% levels of LBSM. The experiment was divided into two phases (starter and finisher) each of which lasted for 28 days. Broiler fed 5% LBSM had higher value for packed cell volume (PCV) of 33.25% and hemoglobin concentration (HC) (11.79 g/dl) which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the PCV and the hemoglobin concentration (HC) of the broiler fed the other diets. The values of white blood cell (WBC) for broilers fed 5% and 10% were statistically similar (13.44 and 13.26 x103/mm3) (P>0.05) but significantly higher (P<0.05) than values obtained from birds fed the Control Diet and 15% LBSM (11.54 x103/mm3) (10.21 x103/mm3). Red blood cell, (RBC) values obtained from the broilers fed the control diet, 10% and 15% LBSM (2.12, 2.43 and 2.32 respectively) 106/mm3 did not differ significantly from one another (P>0.05) but were significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to the value obtained from the birds fed 5% LBSM (3.55 x106/mm3). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the broilers fed the experimental diets. However, the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values obtained from broilers fed 5% LBSM (36.100%) was higher (P<0.05) than the values obtained from birds fed 10% LBSM.