EFFECT OF BOVINE BLOOD MEAL BASED DIET ON BODY WEIGHT AND MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERS OF TWO STRAINS OF BROILERS

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Bovine blood meal (BBM) on the body weight and morphometric characters of Ross 308 and Marshall Strains of commercial broiler chickens. One hundred (100) 1-day-old chicks comprising of fifty (50) Ross 308 and fifty (50) Marshall Strains were used for this study. Fresh Bovine blood was collected from a slaughter house in Awka and boiled at 100oC for 45minutes to kill pathogens and allow moisture to evaporate. The Bovine blood was sun dried to avoid microbial action and then ground into fine particles for easy mixing with other ingredients. BBM was mixed with standard commercial ingredients at 5% inclusion level to have 1.31kg of BBM and 23.69kg of standard commercial diet in a 25kg mix. Body weight and three important morphometric traits [Body length (BL), Heart girth (HG), Thigh length (TL)] were measured. Completely randomized design was employed for this research. Data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated with Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test. The highest mean body weight after 8weeks was recorded in T3, Ross 308 (2697) fed BBM and followed by T4, Marshall (2551) fed diet containing BBM. The weight gained by T3, Ross 308 was significantly different (P<0.05) from the weight gained by T4, Marshall and the control treatments. Ross 308 had better morphometric traits. There was significant difference in the three morphometric characters studied. BBM can be included in a broiler diet at 5% inclusion level for improved performance.