GROWTH PERFORMANCE, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS FED MILLET BASED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ENZYMES

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding millet based diet supplemented with enzymes on the performance of broiler chickens. Three hundred and thirty (330) day-old chicks were allotted to five dietary treatments which are T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Each was replicated three times with twenty two birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Feed and water were given ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. Data was collected on the growth performance and haematological indices and serum biochemistry. Result of the performance of the birds in showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in final weight and weight gain. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in feed intake, feed conversion ratio and feed cost per gain. There was significant differences (P>0.05) in blood chemistry parameters except for potassium, glucose albumin and uric acid levels which showed no significant differences (P>0.05) across the dietary treatments. Hematology indices showed no significant differences (P>0.05) across the dietary treatments except for White blood cell and Platelet levels. Enzyme inclusion improved the performance of the birds in weight gain and feed conversion ratio.