Organ weights and biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the organ weights and biochemical indices of broiler chickens fed diets containing varying levels of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One hundred and twenty (120) broiler birds were used for the experiment. The birds were weighed and randomly allocated into four treatment groups. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate. Treatment 1 served as the control and  did not contain any S. cerevisiae supplement, while treatments 2, 3 and 4 contained 0.7, 1.2 and 1.7 g/kg of S. cerevisiae supplement, respectively. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. At the end of the feeding trial (day 56), two birds were randomly picked from each replication for carcass evaluation and another two birds were randomly selected from each pen and 5mlblood was collected f from the wing vein using sterile disposable syringe for biochemical analysis. The result of this study showed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences among treatments in kidney, spleen and pancreas weights while significant (p < 0.05) differences among treatments existed in the heart, gizzard and liver weights. The study also revealed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences among treatments in total protein, globulin and high density lipoprotein levels while albumin, total cholesterol, glucose and triglyceride were significantly (p < 0.05) affected. In T3 highest heart weight (0.33 % of live weight) and lowest  blood cholesterol concentration (91.77 mg/dl) were recorded and therefore T3 was recommended. Low blood cholesterol enhances broiler production.

Key words: albumin, cholesterol, kidney, liver, yeast