Growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler chicken fed raw and boiled <i>senna obtusifolia</i> seed meal

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler chicken fed raw and boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal. Three hundred (300) Ross day old chicks were used for this study. Chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups in a complete randomized design having three replicate with twenty birds each. Birds were housed in a deep litter system where water and feed was provided ad-libitum for eight weeks. Five experimental diets were formulated with inclusion of raw and boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal at two different levels 5% and 10% each for raw and boiled respectively. Diets were coded as T1(Control), T2(5% Raw S. obtusifolia seed meal), T3 (10% Raw S. obtusifolia seed meal), T4 (5% Boiled S. obtusifolia seed meal; (BSOSM first user define) and T5(10% Boiled Senna obtusifolia seed meal), respectively. Data collected from this study on growth performance and hematological parameters were analyzed using general linear model of SAS, 2009. Differences among means were separated using Duncan multiple range test. Result obtained from this study shows that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed cost/kg gain across treatment groups at the starter and finisher phases. On the other hand, there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference recorded on feed intake, mortality record and all the hematological parameters measured. Birds fed 5% BSOSM had increased weight gain at the starter phase and improved feed conversion ratio in the finisher phase than other treatment groups. Also, birds fed control diet had increased weight gain at the finisher phase and improved feed conversion ratio in the starter phase than other treatment groups. Hematological parameters obtained in this study revealed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences across treatment groups. This implies that S. obtusifolia seed meal is safe for feeding broiler birds either raw or boiled with inclusion levels of up to 10% without any adverse effect on the performance.

Key words: Growth performance, hematology, broiler chicken, Senna obtusifolia, Ross breed.