Effects of Vitamin-mineral Premix Supplementation on Body Weight and Certain Haemato-biochemical Values in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of vitamin-mineral premix supplementation on body weight gain and certain haemato-biochemical parameters in 20 broiler chickens of Shaver Star Bro strain, aged 20 days old during the period from 21st January to 10th February 2002. The chickens of three groups fed with a commercial ration supplemented with vitamin-mineral premix (Provita®, Arifs Bangladesh Ltd.) @ 1%, 2%, and 4% of total feed for a period of 21 days. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weight gain was recorded on 7th, 14th and 21st days of experiment in all the supplemented groups in comparison to control. Among the treated groups, highest body weight gain was recorded in 4% vitamin-mineral supplemented group (2007 ± 4.88 g) and lowest in 1% supplemented group (1823 ± 6.24 g) at 21st day of experiment. Haematological study revealed insignificant increase in TEC, Hb, ESR and PCV in all the vitamin-mineral premix supplemented groups. The lymphocytes were increased at a dose dependent manner and were significantly (p < 0.05) higher (68.60 ± 0.49) in 4% vitamin-mineral supplemented group but the heterophils were significantly (p < 0.05) lower (25.20 ± 0.38) in that group at 21st days of experiment. Total serum protein, albumin and globulin values were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in 2% (11.48 ± 0.34 mg / dl, 6.64 ± 0.30 mg / dl and 4.84 ± 0.13 mg / dl respectively) and 4% (15.20 ± 0.17 mg / dl, 8.98 ± 0.08 mg / dl and 6.22 ± 0.10 mg / dl respectively) vitamin-mineral supplemented groups. It is therefore, suggested that supplementation of vitamin-mineral premix with commercial poultry ration is essential for proper growth and body resistance of poultry.   Key words: Effects; vitamin-mineral premix; body weight; haemato-biochemical values; broiler chickensdoi: 10.3329/bjvm.v2i1.1934 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (1) : 45-48