PERFORMANCE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS FED DIETS CONTAINING, MORINGA (Moringa oleifera) LEAF, NEEM (Azadiracta indica) LEAF OR BITTER LEAF (Vernonia amygydalina) MEAL

Abstract

An experiment investigating the Performance and Haematology of broilers fed moringa leaf, neem leaf or bitter leaf meal was carried out in the teaching and research farm of the Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, Kogi State Nigeria. Fresh moringa, neem and bitter leaf were collected from the Prince Abubakar Audu University Livestock farm premises. The samples were dried under shade for 14 days and ground into powder using a hammer mill and used for the experiment. One hundred and twenty (120) day-old broiler chickens used for the experiment were brooded for two weeks then weighed and randomly allocated to four experimental treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Each of the treatments contained thirty (30) birds with three replicates of ten (10) birds. Moringa, neem or bitter leaf were then incorporated into the experimental diets at 0.05% inclusion level and were defined as T2, T3 or T4 respectively, while T1 was designated as the control diet which contained no phytogenic plant. Data were collected for the growth performance and haematological indices. Result obtained showed significant differences (P<0.05) in final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Final weight and weight gain showed significant increase in values with the inclusion of the phytogenic feed additive. Ranges of 1795.19 g to 2281.62 g and 1333.95 g were obtained in the final weight and weight gain respectively. Daily feed intake and FCR values ranged from 96.55 g to 115.53 g and 2.80 to 3.04 respectively. Haematological showed significant Packed cell volume values ranged from 30.08% to 33.27%, Heamoglobin values ranged from 8.0 to 10.34g/dl. Obtained range for white blood cell values were 215.64 to 229.28 x109/L. Red blood cell ranges from 2.90 – 3.54x1012/L. while mean corpuscular volume value ranges from 121.13 to 123.83fl. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin range from 37.42 to 41.33pg. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration value ranged from 32.13 to 33.13g/dl. Values for neutrophils and lymphocyte range from 2.60 to 4.21% and 95.33 to 98.00% respectively. It was concluded that Vermonia amygdalina or Azardiracta indica should be added at an inclusion rate of 0.50% in broilers chickens’ diets for improved growth performance and haematological indices of the chickens.