Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indices of finisher broiler chickens fed varying levels of sorghum in replacement of maize with the supplementation of exogenous enzymes

A 28 days feeding trial was conducted with a total of one hundred and eighty broiler chickens to evaluate the effect of maize-sorghum based diets supplemented with exogenous enzyme on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indices of finisher broiler chickens. Six experimental diets were formulated in which maize based diet served as Control (T1). Maize in the control diet was replaced by sorghum at the levels of 20% (T2), 40% (T3), 60% (T4), 80% (T5), and 100% (T6), respectively with 50g/100kg enzyme supplementation. The broiler chicks were allotted to six dietary treatments of 30 birds replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Dietary Treatments showed significant (P<0.05) effect on final weight and total feed intake. Similar higher statistical values of 1814.67g and 1804.67g were recorded for final weight in birds fed 80% sorghum (T5) and 100% sorghum (T6). Dietary Treatments had significant (p < 0.05) influence on Total protein and cholesterol. Varying levels of sorghum showed (p<0.05) effect on dry matter, crude protein and crude fiber digestibility. In conclusion, feeding finisher broiler chickens up to 100% sorghum replacement level for maize with enzyme supplementation improved growth performance and efficient nutrient digestibility without deleterious effect on the birds. Keywords: Maize-sorghum; Enzyme; Performance; Serum biochemistry; Nutrient digestibility; Broilers

Haematology and serum chemistry of finisher broiler chickens fed maize-cassava diet supplemented with methionine and inorganic sulphur

This study was conducted to assess the haematology and serum chemistry of broiler chickens fed maize-cassava diets supplemented with methionine and inorganic sulphur. A total of 270 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to nine treatment groups of 30 birds making 10 birds per replicate group. Starter and finisher diets were formulated and fed for a period of 56 days. Dietary treatments were subjected to Completely Randomized Design in a 3 × 3 factorial experimental layout. Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 125, 250 mg/kg DL-methionine and 0, 125, 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur from CuSO4. Results of haematological parameters showed no significant (p>0.05) difference among the treatment groups except the packed cell volume. The higher value of 31.33% was obtained for PCV in the birds fed diet supplemented with 0mg/kg DL-methionine + 125mg/kg CuSO4. Values recorded for biochemical indices varied significantly (p<0.05) among dietary treatments for total protein, globulin and cholesterol. High significant (p<0.05) values of 50.80 g/l and 29.85 g/l were obtained for total protein and globulin in the birds fed diet supplemented with 125 mg/kg DL-methionine + 250 mg/kg CuSO4. Lower (p<0.05) value of 155.81mg/dl was recorded for cholesterol in birds fed diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg DL-methionine + 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur. Based on the results obtained for haematological and serum chemistry parameters, it was concluded that supplementation of DL-methionine and inorganic sulphur in broiler diet at 125 mg/kg DL-methionine + 250 mg/kg inorganic sulphur level of supplementation improved dietary protein and had no inimical effect.Key words: Maize-cassava; DL-methionine; inorganic sulphur; haematology; serumchemistry

Haematological and biochemical responses of starter broiler chickens fed copper and probiotic supplemented diets

A study was conducted to investigate the haematological and biochemical responses of starter broiler chickens fed copper and probiotics supplemented diets. A total of 180-day old Marshal broiler chicks were randomly allotted to six treatment groups of 30 birds each. The treatments were divided into three replicates of ten birds each; starter diet was formulated and fed for a period of twenty-eight days. The dietary treatments were subjected to complete randomized design arranged in a 2×3 factorial arrangement was made up of probiotics (0 and 500ppm) and copper (0, 125 and 250mg). Data were collected on haematological and serum biochemical indices. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and, Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used to separate significant means. Dietary supplementation of copper and probiotics showed significant influence (P < 0.05) on haematological and biochemical indices. Biochemical analyses revealed higher significant (P < 0.05) copper × probiotics interaction values of 42.81 g/l, 19.50 g/l and 23.31 g/l for total protein, albumin and globulin respectively in the birds fed 250 mg/kg copper × 500 ppm probiotics /kg. Birds fed control diet recorded lower significant (P < 0.05) values of 33.85 g/l and 15.40 g/l for total protein and albumin. In contrast, birds fed diet supplemented with 250 mg/kg copper × 500 ppm probiotics /kg recorded least significant (P < 0.05) copper x probiotics interaction values of 149.20 mg/dl, 49.00 mg/dl, 46.48 mg/dl and 81.56 mg/dl for cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein respectively. Birds on control diet recorded highest values for cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein (respectively). Dietary copper and probiotics supplementation influenced haematological parameters. Copper x probiotics interaction significantly (P < 0.05) influenced white blood cell, glucose, lymphocyte and eosinophil. Broilers fed diet containing 250 mg/kg copper x 500 ppm probiotics /kg had significantly higher white blood cell (30.65x109/L) than the birds on control diet (26.15 ×109/L). No significant (P > 0.05) copper × probiotic interaction influence on packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, neutrophil and monocyte. It can be concluded that dietary copper and probiotics supplementation had significant interaction influence on birds at 250 mg/kg copper × 500 ppm probiotics /kg supplemental level. It could be inferred that the supplementation of both copper and probiotics to starter broiler diet significantly improved the immune-competence of the broiler starters.Key words: haematological; biochemical; copper; probiotics; broiler chicken

Haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of Japanese quail chicks (Coturnixcoturnix japonica) fed raw and processed pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) seed meal based diets

An experiment was conducted with 720 one - week old Japanese quail chicks to evaluate the effect of feeding raw and processed pigeon pea  (Cajanus cajan) seed meal based diets on the haematology and serum biochemistry of the Japanese quails in a completely randomized design. Birds were allocated to eight treatment groups with three replicates each containing 30 birds per replicate. The control diet (TI) had no pigeon pea seed meal, T2 was raw pigeon pea seed while other diets contained 30% of pigeon pea seed meal processed by soaking (for 24, 48 and 72 hours) (T3 – T5), fermentation for 72 hours(T5), boiling for 60 minutes(T6) and roasting for 30 minutes(T7). Blood samples were collected from  the birds through the wing web vein at the 6th week of the feeding trial. The haematological parameters investigated were packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells count (WBC), lymphocytes, neutrophils, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular  haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) while serum biochemical components were creatinine, cholesterol, albumin, urea and total protein concentrations. The results obtained in this study showed that all the haematological parameters and serum biochemistry of birds were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by dietary treatments except albumin concentration (g/dL). The packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells and total protein values were within the range of 41.00 – 52.17 %, 13.63 –17.35g/dl, 6.80 – 8.83 (x 106/mm3) and 5.62 – 7.70 g/dl respectively. The results suggest that raw and processed pigeon pea seed meal (PPSM) possess good dietary protein quality for optimal growth and had no adverse effect on haematological and biochemical profiles of quail chicks at 30 % dietary level of inclusion

DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM THREONINE REQUIREMENTS OF JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix japonica) CHICKS REARED UNDER TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Threonine, like most amino acids, is traditionally noted for its role in protein synthesis. However, dietary threonine concentration required for the maximum performance of Japanese quails is yet to be determined, therefore, a study was conducted to determine the optimum threonine requirement of Japanese quail chicks in the tropical environment. A total of four hundred and fifty, two weeks old quail chicks (mixed sexes) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (0.67, 0.81, 0.95, 1.08 and 1.22 % total threonine) and replicated thrice in a completely randomized design (CRD). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in average weight gain, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio and age at first lay of quails fed the dietary treatments. Weight of first egg laid was significantly (P0.05) similar for all treatments. There were significant differences (P0.05). It was concluded that the performance of birds were not influenced by the dietary treatments up to the highest dietary level of threonine studied (1.22%). Therefore, it is possible that the optimum dietary level of threonine may be above 1.22 %. Further studies will be necessary to establish higher doses of dietary threonine requirement of Japanese quails reared under tropical climatic environment