Performance, Haematology and Serum Biochemical Status of two Strains of Broiler Chicken Fed Ficus thonningii Leaf Powder and Vitamin C Supplemented Diets
C. O. Osowe *
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
O. A. Adu
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
O. D. Oloruntola
Department of Animal Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.
A. J. Atansuyi
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
C. A. Chineke
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effect of Ficus thonningii leaf powder (FTLP) and vitamin C supplemented diets on performance and haemato-biochemical status of two strains of broiler chickens.
Methodology: Four hundred and eighty-one-day-old of Arbor acre (AB) and Cobb 500 (CO) broiler chicks were randomized to eight dietary treatments; diet 1 and 2 (Control), diets 3 and 4 (200mg/kg vitamin C inclusion), diets 5 and 6 (1% inclusion of FTLP) and (diets 7 and 8 (200mg/kg + 1% FTLP inclusions) for AB and CO strains respectively.
Results: Result shows that feed intake, body weight gain and FCR were significant (P<0.05) at the starter phase. Interaction between strains and vitamin C were also significant (P<0.05) for body weight gain, FCR and feed intake. Vitamin C and FTLP supplementation significantly (P<0.05) improved the erythrocytes count while the MCV, MCH, WBC and lymphocytes of birds fed diets 2 and 6 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the other diets. The dietary supplementation of vitamin C and FTLP shows that strain AB had a significantly (P<0.05) higher erythrocytes count than CO strain while the CO showed significant (P<0.05) improvement for the MCV and MCH. Vitamin C supplementation showed significant difference (P<0.05) for the RBC and the interaction of vitamin C and FTLP significantly (P<0.05) improved PCV, HB, MCV, MCH, WBC and lymphocytes. The interactive effect of vitamin C and FTLP significantly (P<0.05) improved the total protein and albumin. Cholesterol and creatinine levels were significantly (P<0.05) lowered by the inclusion of vitamin C and FTLP.
Conclusion: As observed in this study, the inclusion of FTLP and vitamin C as a supplement in the diets of broiler chickens improved the performance, haematological indices and serum biochemical status of the tested birds.
Keywords: Ficus thonningii, supplementation, performance, haematological, serum biochemical