HAEMATOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKEN

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different phytogenic plants on broiler chicken haematology. This experiment was conducted at the poultry unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Animal science Department, University of Benin. The experiment comprises of four treatments; control, turmeric, ginger, red pepper and black pepper and replicated three time on a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with total number of 100 birds. Data were collected on haematological components. The results in this study show that there was no significant (p>0.05) difference between the phytogenic plants (turmeric, ginger, red pepper and black pepper) examined in this study. The result shows that the least (28.03%) pack cell volume was recorded in chicken treated with ginger while the highest (31.60%) pack cell volume was recorded in chicken without phytogenic plants (control). The result indicates that the least (7.03 g/dL) amount of haemoglobin was recorded in chicken treated with ginger while higher (11.00 g/dL) haemoglobin was recorded in chicken treated with turmeric.The result shows that ginger was significantly low in the haematological components as compared to the other treatments. Increases were observed in the haematological parameter treated with turmeric, red pepper and black pepper. It could be concluded that phytogenic plants such as turmeric, red pepper and black pepper has haematopoietic properties and can be fed to broilers without deleterious effects in haematology parameters. It could also be recommended that turmeric, red pepper and black pepper be as feed for poultry production.