Growth performance and haematological indices of broiler finisher chickens fed diets containing Calopogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast

Abstract

A total of 150 four-week-old Anak finisher broiler chickens were used to determine the growth performance and haematological indices of broiler finisher chickens fed diets containing Calopogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast. They were randomly grouped into 5 treatments with each consisting of 30 broiler chickens. Each treatment group was replicated thrice with equal number of birds (10) per replicate. Five experimental diets were formulated; control diet contained basal diet and soyabean meal which was quantitatively replaced with sun dried Calapogonium mucunoide leaf meal supplemented with yeast at 10, 15, 20 and 25% in other diets. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The blood of the experimental birds was collected and analysed for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), Haemoglobin Concentration (Hb), Mean Cell Haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Cell Volume (MCV) at the end of 4 weeks. Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance. The results of the study showed that inclusion of yeast significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the feed intake, final liveweight gain, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, red blood cells (RBC) and MCH (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin) of the finisher broiler chicken. All parameters tended to improve with increased dietary level of Calopogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast in diets of broiler finisher chickens. Calopogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast did not significantly (P > 0.05) influence PCV (Packed Cell Volume), HBg/dl, WBC (White Blood Cells) and MCHC. It was concluded in this study that Calopogonium mucunoides leaf meal supplemented with yeast could be included at 25% to improve body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and red blood cell of finisher broiler chickens.