Haematological and Serum Biochemical Indices of Finisher Broiler Chicken Fed Untreated and NaOH Treated Palm Press Fibre Meal-Based Diets

Abstract

The soaring cost of maize that constitutes about 60% of broiler feed has led to the quest for discovery and use of alternative feed ingredients, which could impact on blood parameters. Research was therefore conducted to investigate the blood parameters of [finisher broiler chickens fed untreated and NaOH treated Palm Press Fibre meal (PPFM). Four hundred and twenty finishing broilers were randomly assigned to 7 treatment diets. T (control) contained only maize. In Al, A2, A3 untreated PPFM substituted maize at 16.67, 33.33 and 50% rates (10, 20 and 30% inclusion rates) while for B1, B2 and B3 NaOH treated PPFM substituted maize at the same rate. The broilers were managed under deep litter system for 28days after which blood was collected for haematological and serum biochemical parameters analysis. Data were analyzed for variance (ANOVA) at 0.05 significance level. The total protein and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) had (P<0.05) highest value in B3 group while the control had the least value. In the same vein, there were variations in other parameters but the results were within the normal range. It was concluded that though 50% substitution of maize with NaOH treated PPFM gave highest values but both untreated and NaOH treated PPFM can substitute maize at up to 50% without causing a deleterious effect on blood parameters of broiler chickens.