Nutrient Digestibility, Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Graded levels of Mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwensis) Leaf Meal

  • Makinta, A.A. Department of Animal Production Technology, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
  • Igwebuike, J.U.
  • Kwari, I.D.
  • Mohammed, G.
  • Girgiri, A. Y.
Keywords: Broilers, Mistletoe leaf meal, Haematology, Serum biochemical indices, Nutrient digestibility

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the nutrient digestibility, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing graded levels of Mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwensis) leaf meal (MLM) as protein source. MLM was included at graded levels of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% in the five respective diets. Two hundred and twenty five (225) day-old chicks were used for the study. They were brooded for two weeks and randomly allotted to five experimental diets in groups of forty-five (45). Each treatment contained three replicates of fifteen (15) birds each. The birds were fed starter (23.77 – 24% CP) and finisher diets (19.78 – 20.43% CP) at 3-4 weeks and 5 – 8 weeks, respectively. Standard management practices were followed while water and feed were supplied ad libitum. At the end of the eight weeks trial, feed and faecal samples were analyzed for proximate composition and nutrient digestibility. Blood samples were also collected and used for the determination of haemotological and serum biochemical indices. The proximate analysis results revealed decreased in metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) contents of the diets with increasing levels of the MLM as a result of lower energy and CP contents of the MLM. The CF contents (6.75–9.00%) of the starter and finisher diets (6.20–10.81%) increased as the level of MLM increased. The nutrient digestibility decreased as the level of MLM increased for dry matter (DM), CP, ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). The results for the haematology revealed non-significant (P>0.005) differences among the dietary treatment groups for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) count, and white blood (WBC) count. The parameters evaluated were all within the recommended haematological range of values for broiler chickens. The serum biochemical indices obtained in this study revealed that there was no significant (P>0.05) differences for most serum biochemical indices among the treatment groups except urea, potassium and ASAT which differed. The values, however, did not follow any definite trend. It is concluded that inclusion levels up to 20% MLM in the diets of broilers will support optimum performance without adverse effects on the nutrient digestibility, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aduku, A. (2014). Animal Nutrition In The Tropics: Feed and Feeding, Pasture Management, Monogastric and Ruminant Nutrition. Davon Computer and Business Bureau, Zaria, Nigeria, 1-12.
Aiello, S. E. and Mays, A. (1998). The Merck Veterinary Manual. 8th ed. Merck and Co. Inc: Whitehouse station, New Jersey Pp. 321
Anon. (1989). The Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare: Both in the key and Management of Laboratory. 5thed. Churchill, Living Stone, London. Pp.634.
AOAC (2000). Official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists 17th edition. Howitz W. Washington D.C. Published by Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Inc. Arlington, Virginia, USA. Pp55 – 101.
Awosanya, B., Joseph, J.K., Apata, D.F. and Ayoola, M.A. (1999). Performance, blood chemistry and carcass quality attributes of rabbits. International Tropical Journal of Animal Science. 2:89-96.
Bush, B. M. (1975). Veterinary Laboratory Manual, William Heineman Medical Books Ltd, London. 447pp
Bhatti, J. A., Younas, M., Abdullah, M., Babar, M. E. and Nawaz, H. (2009). Feed intake, weight gain and haematology in Nili Ravi buffalo heifers fed on Mot grass and
Barseem fodder substituted with saltbush (Atriplex amnicola). Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 29(3):133-137.
Crampe, R. L., Hudson, N. J., Holmberg, A., Holmberg, S. and Franklin, C. E. (2008). The effects of saltwater acclimation on neurotransmitters in the lingual salt glands of the estuarine crocodile. Crocodylus porosus. Regulation Preparation. 140:55-64.
D’Mello, J. P. F., Acamovic, T. and Walker, A. G (1987). Evaluation of leucaena leaf meal for broiler growth and pigmentation. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad), 64:33-35.
DNMA (2013). Department of Nigerian Metrological Authority (DNMA). Data Report by the Weather Station. Accessed on 8/11/2013 at www. dnma.org
Egbewande., O. O., Jimoh, O. O., E. Ibitoye, E. B., and Olorede, B. R. (2011). Utilization of African mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwensis) leaf meal by broiler chickens. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. 10 (1):19-22.
Ekenyem, B. U. and Madubuike, F. N. (2006). Haematology and serum biochemistry, characteristics of broiler chicks fed varying dietary levels of Ipomea asarifolia leaf meal. International Journal of Poultry Science. 5 (1):09-12.
Esonu, B. O., Emenalom, O. O., Udedibie, A. B. I., Okoli, T. C., Herbert, U. and Ekpor, C. F. (2001). Performance and blood chemistry of weaner pig fed raw mucuna beans (Velvet bean) meal. Tropical Animal Production Investigation. 4:49-54.
Esonu, B. O., Opara, M. N., Okoli, I. C., Obikaonu, H. O., Udedibie, C and Iheshiulor, O. M (2006). Physiological response of laying birds to neem leaf meal based diets; body weight, organ characteristics and hematology. Online: Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 5:26-30.
Fasuyi, A. O., Fajemibhin, K. S. O. and Omojola, A. B. (2005). The egg quality characteristics of layers fed varying dietary inclusions of Siam weed leaf meal (Chromolaena odorata) leaf meal (SWLM). International Journal of Poultry Science. 4(10):752-757.
Iheukwumere, F. C., Okoli, I. C and Okeudo, N. T. (2008). Preliminary studies on raw Napoleona imperialia seeds as feed ingredient, hematology and serum biochemistry carcass and organ weights of weaner rabbits. Tropical Animal Production Investigation. 5: 219-227.
Makinta, A. A., Igwebuike, J. U., Kwari, I. D., Mohammed, G. and Girgiri. A. Y (2022). Nutritional evaluation of mistletoe leaf meal on the growth and carcass characteristics and cost benefit analysis of broiler chickens in the semi-arid region of Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and Technology Vol. (5 In press)
Mejia, L. and Vantress, C. (2022). Nutritionists solutions In times of soaring ingredient prices. Poultry World. 38(1):29-31.
Mitruka, B. M., and Rawnsley, H. M., (1977). Clinical Biochemical and Haematological Reference Values in Normal Experimental Animals, Masson, New York. Pp. 42 45.
Mustapha, G. G., Igwebuike, J. U., Kwari, I. D., Adamu, S. B, and Abba, Y. (2015). The effect of replacement levels of boiled and fermented Castor seed (Ricinus cummunis) meal on the productive performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and cost effectiveness in broilers. International Journal of Science and Nature. 6(4):675-682.
Okai, D. B., Easter, R. A. and Frank, G. R. (1984). The nutritive value of some non-conventional Ghanaian feed ingredients: Nutrient composition and effects on performance of weaning rats. World Review of Animal Production. 20:11-16.
Okorie, K. C. (2006). Evaluation of leaf meals of Pentaclethra macrophylla, Jacaranda mimosifolia and Mucuna puriens as feed ingredients in poultry diets. Ph.D. Thesis, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Pp.67.
Ologhobo, A.D., Apata, D.F., Oyegide, A, and Akinpelu, R. O. (1992). Toxicity of raw lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) and lima bean fractions for growing chicks. British Poultry Science. 34(5):505-522.
Olomu, J. M. (2011). Monogastric Animal Nutrition, Principles and Practice. St. Jackson Publishing, Benin City, Nigeria. Pp. 70-72.
Pauzenga, U. (1985). Feeding Parent Stock. Zootechnia International. Pp 22 – 25.
Ranjhan, S.K. (1999). Animal Nutrition and Feeding Practices, 5thedition. Vikas Pub. House PVT Ltd. New Delhi, India. Pp 159-167.
Ranjhan, S.K (2011). Animal Nutrition In The Tropics, 6th Ed. Vikas Publishing House. PVT Ltd, New Delhi, Pp. 209, 466.
Tangendjaja, B., Raharjo, Y.C and Lowry, J.B. (1990). Leucaena leaf meal in the diet of growing rabbits, evaluation and effect of a low mimosine treatment. Animal Feed Science and Technology.29: 63-72.
Published
2023-01-24
How to Cite
Makinta, A.A., Igwebuike, J.U., Kwari, I.D., Mohammed, G., & Girgiri, A. Y. (2023). Nutrient Digestibility, Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Graded levels of Mistletoe (Tapinanthus bangwensis) Leaf Meal. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science and Technology (NJAST), 5(4), 48 - 57. Retrieved from http://njast.com.ng/index.php/home/article/view/227

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>