SERUM AND HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKEN FED Amaranthus cruentus LEAF MEAL.AS A REPLACEMENT FOR PREMIX

Abstract

Vegetable based feeds are rich sources of essential plant amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The fresh matured leaves were harvested and sundried. The sundried leaves were milled and analysed for their proximate composition. Crude protein 22.90%, crude fibre 8.99%, crude fat 2.77%, and ash 21.70%. One hundred and eight day-old marshall strain broiler chickens were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing amaranthus cruentus leaf meal (ACLM) on serum and haematological indices of finishing broilers. The birds were randomly allotted into three experimental treatments groups with the treatments having 3 replicates. There were 12 birds per replicate which made up 36 birds per treatment in a completely randomized design (CRD). Diets were formulated to meet standard requirements. There were significantly (p< 0.05) difference in all serum metabolites measured. Birds on T₃ had the highest value of serum protein (g/dl), globulin (3.65g/dl), and creatinine (0.70g/dl) while the lowest value of serum protein was recorded for birds on T_l and T₂ with birds on T₂ having the lowest globulin value (3.45g/dl) and birds on T_l having creatinine value (0.60g/dl). All haematological parameters measured showed significant (p<0.05) difference. Birds on T₃ had the lowest values of PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC while birds on T_l had the highest values of all the parameters PCV, Hb, RBC, and WBC with similarity existing in PCV and Hb value of birds on T_l and T₂. It could be concluded that amaranthus cruentus can replace premix in broiler diets at both starter and finisher phases without any negative effect on the birds.