Abstract
The modern poultry production technique aimed at increasing production by increasing efficiency of nutrients utilization and health status of birds using organic materials like herbs and spices to decreasing reliant on antibiotics and other synthetic products that have residual effects on birds, their products and their consumers. Thus, an experiment was carried out to investigate effect of dried pepperfruit (Dennettia tripetala) meal (DPFM) on haematology and cholesterol components of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five treatments containing 30 chicks each. Each treatment was replicated three times, which contained 10 birds each. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design. Five diets were formulated to represent the treatments (T1 – T5). Treatment (T1) was the control diet containing no DPFM, while T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1% respectively. Diets were fed to birds starting from day old for 28 days (starter phase) and 21 days for finisher phase. Birds were allowed access to feed and water ad libitum. Parameter measured are the haematological indices like White blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, red blood cells, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, MCV, MCHC and platelets; and lipid parameters like Triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density, low density and very low density lipoproteins. At the end of 49 days, results indicated an increase in WBC, RBC and Hb by all the levels of pepper fruit meal. At 0.25% inclusion the neutrophils were reduced. The HDL (good cholesterol), VLDL were increased and LDL (bad cholesterol) was reduced by all levels of DPFM fed (0.25-1.0%) while the total cholesterol level was not affected. Inclusion of dried pepper fruit meal up to 1.0% in broiler chicken diets improved their haematology, immunity and good cholesterol levels while bad cholesterol levels was significantly reduced.
Published Version
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