Effect of Xylopia aethiopica fruit powder on haematological and serum biochemical indices of finisher broiler chickens

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of Xylopia aethiopica fruit powder on broiler chickens' haematological and serum biochemical indices. A total of two hundred broiler chickens (Abor acre) at twenty- eight days of age was used for the experiment. Five experimental diets were formulated and labelled T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅. Treatment one contained no X. aethiopica fruit powder while T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ contained X. aethiopica fruit powder at 100, 200, 300 and 400 g per 100 kg feed respectively. The broiler chickens were divided into five groups of forty birds and each group was assigned one of the treatment diets in a completely randomised design (CRD). Each group was further divided into four replicates of ten birds per replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Blood was collected for haematological and Serum biochemistry analysis on the (28) twenty-eight days of the experiment. The blood samples collected were analysed for haematological parameters and Serum biochemical parameters. The results showed that the diets did not significantly affect all the haematological parameters (p>0.05). There are significant reductions (p<0.05) in the values of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein, as the level of X. aethiopica fruit powder increased in the diet. In contrast, a significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in high-density lipoprotein. Therefore, it may be concluded that including X. aethiopica fruit powder at 400 g/100 kg, feed enhanced Serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens.