Haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed roselle seed (Hibiscus sabdariffa l.) cake based diet as replacement for soyabean meal

Abstract

Feeding trial experiment was carried out to evaluate the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens fed graded levels of Roselle Seed Cake (RSC) as replacement of a conventional protein source. Proximate composition was done to determine the nutrient content
of RSC and experimental diets. The experiment contained graded levels of RSC replacing soya bean cake (SBC). One hundred and twenty (120) day old Ross broiler chickens were used in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The broiler chicks were assigned to five dietary treatments with three replicates each with 8 birds per replicate and 24 birds per treatment. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated for the broiler straight diet. Diet 1 served as the control diet while diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained 8%, 16%, 24% and 32% RSC respectively. Data were collected and analyzed using analysis of variance and the mean was separated using Duncan multiple range test. The findings from the study showed that there were no significant (P?0.05) differences in all the parameters measured for haematology across dietary treatment means except for the white blood cell. The blood biochemical composition showed no significant (P?0.05) differences in total protein, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein  and creatinine across dietary treatments. RSC as an alternative feedstuff can replace soya bean cake at 24% in the diet of broiler chickens for improved haematological and blood biochemical of broilers. Roselle seed cake can replace SBC at the broiler chicken straight ration at 75% (24% dietary RSC) inclusion for better performance.

Keywords: Rosselle seed cake, Soyabean meal, haematological, serum biochemical