Effects of equi-protein replacement of soybean meal with graded levels of differently processed rubber seed meal on health status of broiler chickens

Abstract

The nutritional qualities of feed stuff are best examined on the effect of it on the health status of animals, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of incorporation of graded levels of differently processed rubber seed meal (RSM) into broiler chicken diets on the health status of the birds. Two samples of RSM were subjected to different processing methods; soaking in hot water (HWRSM) and roasting (RRSM) and were incorporated into broiler chicken diets to replace soya bean meal at 15, 25 and 35% equi-protein replacement levels in six weeks feeding trial. At maturity of the birds, blood was collected for haematological (packed cell volume; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Red blood cells; Haemoglobin concentration; mean cell volume; mean cell haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentration; lymphocytes; neutrophils; monocytes; basophiles and eosinophil) and Serological parameters (total serum protein; aspartic aminotransferase; alkaline aminotransferase; cholesterol; urea; albumin; globulin; albumin / globulin and creatinine). The result showed that there were no significant (P≥0.05) differences in all haematological variables and serological indices measured except cholesterol, as compared with those birds on soybean meal-based diets. The values of cholesterol of birds on the dietary treatments were significantly lower than those in soybean meal-based diet. The average values of all haematological variables; packed cell volume (27.50 - 28.67% ); erythrocyte sedimentation rate(3.00 -3.33%); Red blood cells ( 3.10 - 3.70%); Haemoglobin concentration (9.15 - 9.55%); mean cell volume (81.70- 93.07%); mean cell haemoglobin (27.31-31.01pg) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (33.16-33.37 g/dL) lymphocytes (30.17-31.33%); neutrophils (22.17- 24.50%); monocytes (10.50 -13.33%); basophiles (2.33 -2.83%); eosinophil (0.67 -1.33%) and serological indices; TSP (3.16 -3.74 mg/dl); aspartic aminotransferase (16.50 - 21.30 µ/d ); alkaline aminotransferase (4.84 -10.40 µ/d), cholesterol (107.64 -146.32 mg/dL); Urea (10.22 - 11.08 mg/dL); Albumin (11.63 - 14.18 g/dL) Globulin (7.47 -17.70 g/dL); Albumin / globulin (0.85 - 2.79) and creatinine (4.98- 6.80 mg/dL) were within the established range for healthy birds. Suggesting that feeding of processed rubber seed meals-based diets have no noticeable adverse effect on health status of broiler chickens and can be included in their meal at these levels.