Digestibility And Hematological Parameters Of Broiler Chickens Fed Blood Meal As A Replacement For Synthetic Lysine

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of replacing synthetic lysine (SL) with blood meal (BM) on apparent nutrients digestibility and hematological responses of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty (150) unsexed Anak broiler chicks were used. There were five diets with diet (T1) containing 0.10% SL and without BM as control. Diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0% BM without SL respectively, representing T2, T3, T4 and T5 in the same order. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates per treatment. Each treatment had 30 birds, 10 birds per replicate. Diets were isonitrogenous (23%CP and 20%CP) for starter and finisher phases and isocaloric (11.90MJME/Kg and 12.30MJME/Kg) for starter and finisher phases respectively. At the end of the experiment which lasted for 56 days (28 days for each phase), 4.0% BM significantly (P<0.05) reduced protein digestibility at both phases and 3.0% at starter phase only. Other nutrients digestibility and hematological parameters (white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin and packed cell volume) measured were not significantly (P>0.05) different at both phases. There was no mortality recorded in all the dietary groups.