EFFECTS OF TWO HOUSING SYSTEMS ON PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF GROWING PULLETS

Abstract

Effects of two housing systems on performance characteristics haematological and serum biochemical indices of growing pullets were undertaken. Bovan nera pullets (n=576) at weeks 12 weighing 1.06 ± 0.01-1.08 ± 0.03kg were divided into two equal portions of 288 pullets each into conventional Battery Cage System (BCS) and Deep Litter System (DLS). Pullets were randomly allotted to the same dietary treatment in a completely randomised design. The experimental diets and water were offered to birds ad libitum. Birds were weighed prior to allotment to dietary treatments. The weight and feed consumption of pullets were taken weekly. The conversion ratio, feed cost/gain and percentage mortality were determined. At week 14, blood samples were collected to evaluated haematological and serum biochemical indices using standard procedures. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General Linear Model procedure of SAS Institute Inc. (2012) and significant means separated by Duncan Multiple Range option of the same software was employed to analysed data. The feed intakes (kg/bird/day) obtained for pullets in DLS and BCS were 0.10±0.06 and 0.08±0.08 with gains of 0.01±0.07 and 0.01±0.03 kg/bird/day respectively. Performance characteristics of growing pullets was not affected (p>0.05) by housing systems Haematological and serum biochemical indices of birds were within the normal physiologically healthy chickens. Two housing systems did not affect (p>0.05) haematological and serum biochemical indices except albumin; albumin/globulin ratio, and phosphorous. Empirically, it can be concluded that housing systems affect albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, and phosphorous as serum indices