Haematological and biochemical indices of broiler chicken fed graded levels of boiled African yam beans (<i>Sphenostylis stenocarpa</i>)

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the haematological and biochemical indices of broiler chicken fed graded levels of boiled African yam beans. The birds, 120 in number were allotted into four treatment groups having three replicate per treatment and 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design were used. Diet 1 was the control and corn-soy bean-based while diets 2, 3, and 4 had boiled African am beans at 10, 15 and 20% respectively. Blood samples were collected from eight weeks old broiler chicken into two sets of labeled sterile bottles and used for the analysis. The values observed for white blood cells (2.43, 2.71, 2.72. 2.76), packed cell volume (31.00, 31.04, 28.00, 27.00) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (32.83, 32.70, 29.60, 33.93%) for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively fell within the normal range reported for healthy broiler chicken while the red blood cells for diets 1, 2, and 3 are comparable. Blood of birds in Diets 2, 3 and 4 had similar values of alkaline phosphatase which were higher than those of diet 1. Those in diets 3 and 4 had highest values of urea (30.00mg/dl), creatinine (0.413mg/dl) and lowest values of albumen (1.500d/L). Feeding boiled African yam bean above 10% level of inclusion resulted in increase in alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine. For optimal productivity 10% inclusion of boiled African yam beans is therefore recommended.

Keywords: African yam beans, broiler, dietary levels, boiled