Effect of honey on performance and hematological parameters of broilers and Nigerian local chickens

Abstract

A six week feeding trail was conducted to investigate the effect of honey on the performance and haematological parameters of broilers and Nigerian Local Chickens. The experiment was conducted at the Niger Delta University, Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm. Sixty (60) day old chicks which consisted of three treatments, 20 broilers, 20 normal feather and 20 naked neck genotypes were used with each of the genotype having control. Feed and water were given ad-libitum. The experimental birds for the broiler and naked neck genotypes had the highest significant values compared to the control which had significant difference (P<0.05) in their performance, while the control of the normal feather genotype had the highest significant values compared to the experimental birds but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in their performance. The broiler birds had the highest significant values compared to normal feather and naked neck genotypes and there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in their performance. The effect of honey on haematological parameters showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in White blood cell, neutrophils, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophile and basophile of broiler birds, in normal feather, white blood cell, neutrophile and lymphocyte differed significantly (P<0.05) and there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in neutrophile and lymphocyte in the experimental and control for naked neck genotype. In conclusion, the study revealed that the inclusion of honey caused a positive effect on the performance of broilers and naked neck, but showed no effect or reduction in performance in normal feather genotype.