Studies on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Finished on an Unprocessed and Processed Velvet Bean (Mucuna Pruriens (L.)) as Dietary Protein Sources

The effects of different processed velvet seed on haematology and serum indices of Broiler chickens was studied using 150 four weeks old broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of 30 birds with three replications of 10 birds each. The chickens were finished on five dietary treatments formulated to contain 5% raw, soaked and boiled, cracked and boiled and roasted velvet bean seed meal as protein source in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The haematological parameters indicated no significant difference (P> 0.05) among treatment groups for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCHC and PLT while MCV and MCH differ significantly (P< 0.05) where chickens on treatment T3 (boiled) had the highest values of 133.33 fl and 42.80 pg while lower values were chickens in T4 (cracked and boiled) 123.90 fl and 39.80 pg as the lowest. Urea concentration range of 7.88-10.08 mmol/l obtained with significant difference (P< 0.05) among treatment groups with T5(roasted) having value of 10.08 mmol/l and T2 (soaked) having least value of sodium 7.88 mmol/l. Serum electrolytes such as Sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate showed significant (P< 0.05) difference among treatment groups. The study concluded that, on account of adequate haematocrit and immune statuses, in addition to its hypoglycaemic ability, boiling mucuna seed meal with 5.00 % level of inclusion can be used without any deleterious effect on haematological and serum biochemical assay parameters of broiler chickens.Keywords: Velvet bean seeds, Haematology, Biochemistry Assay, Carcass Characteristic

Influence of Periodic Administration of Garlic Extract on Blood Parameters of Grazing Lambs

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of periodic  administration of garlic extract drench on haematology and serum biochemistry of grazing lambs. Twelve West African dwarf sheep with an average weight of 12.00 ±0.77 kg were allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 animals per group in a completely randomized design which lasted for 10 weeks. Treatment 1 (T1) served as control with no garlic extract, Treatment (T2) were given 5ml garlic extract weekly and Treatment T3 received 5ml garlic extract every 2 weeks. Results of haematological analysis showed that PCV significantly (P<0.05) differs among treatment groups while RBC, MCV, WBC, LYM and GRA all show no significant (P>0.05) difference. The lowest PCV of 19.68% was observed in T1 while T2 recorded the highest PCV of 29.68%. The results from serum biochemical indices shows that cholesterol and ALT differ significantly (P<0.05) among treatment groups while total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea and AST all show no significant (P>0.05) difference among treatment means. The lowest serum cholesterol value of 0.78 was observed in T2 while the control group  recorded the highest value of 1.30. The study suggests that garlic extract could be used to reduce the level of serum cholesterol in grazing lamb thereby improving meat quality.Keywords: Garlic Extract, West African Dwarf Sheep, Haematology, Biochemistry

Studies on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Finished on an Unprocessed and Processed Velvet Bean ( Mucuna Pruriens (L.)) as Dietary Protein Sources

The effects of different processed velvet seed on haematology and serum indices of Broiler chickens was studied using 150 four weeks old broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of 30 birds with three replications of 10 birds each. The chickens were finished on five dietary treatments formulated to contain 5% raw, soaked and boiled, cracked and boiled and roasted velvet bean seed meal as protein source in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The haematological parameters indicated no significant difference (P> 0.05) among treatment groups for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCHC and PLT while MCV and MCH differ significantly (P< 0.05) where chickens on treatment T3 (boiled) had the highest values of 133.33 fl and 42.80 pg while lower values were chickens in T4 (cracked and boiled) 123.90 fl and 39.80 pg as the lowest. Urea concentration range of 7.88-10.08 mmol/l obtained with significant difference (P< 0.05) among treatment groups with T5(roasted) having value of 10.08 mmol/l and T2 (soaked) having least value of sodium 7.88 mmol/l. Serum electrolytes such as Sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate showed significant (P< 0.05) difference among treatment groups. The study concluded that, on account of adequate haematocrit and immune statuses, in addition to its hypoglycaemic ability, boiling mucuna seed meal with 5.00 % level of inclusion can be used without any deleterious effect on haematological and serum biochemical assay parameters of broiler chickens

Influence of Periodic Administration of Garlic Extract on Blood Parameters of Grazing Lambs

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of periodic administration of garlic extract drench on haematology and serum biochemistry of grazing lambs. Twelve West African dwarf sheep with an average weight of 12.00 \ub10.77 kg were allotted to 3 treatment groups with 4 animals per group in a completely randomized design which lasted for 10 weeks. Treatment 1 (T1) served as control with no garlic extract, Treatment (T2) were given 5ml garlic extract weekly and Treatment T3 received 5ml garlic extract every 2 weeks. Results of haematological analysis showed that PCV significantly (P<0.05) differs among treatment groups while RBC, MCV, WBC, LYM and GRA all show no significant (P>0.05) difference. The lowest PCV of 19.68% was observed in T1 while T2 recorded the highest PCV of 29.68%. The results from serum biochemical indices shows that cholesterol and ALT differ significantly (P<0.05) among treatment groups while total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, urea and AST all show no significant (P>0.05) difference among treatment means. The lowest serum cholesterol value of 0.78 was observed in T2 while the control group recorded the highest value of 1.30. The study suggests that garlic extract could be used to reduce the level of serum cholesterol in grazing lamb thereby improving meat quality