Haematological and serum biochemical indices of cocks drenched varying levels of clove powder (Syzygium aromaticum)

Abstract

There is stimulated increased interest in the usage of consumer accepted natural alternatives such as phytogenic feed additive (PFAs) to improve livestock performance. Clove is a wonderful phytogenic feed additives with little information in its benefit in poultry production. This study was conducted to assess the effect of clove powder (Syzygium aromaticum) on haematological and serum - biochemical indices of cocks. Clove was obtained from a local market in Saki, Oyo State. Dried clove buds were cleaned and air dried for 24 hours prior to milling and stored in air-tight bags until the period of usage. Cocks (48 birds assigned into four treatments) were drenched at 0.0g (T1), 0.05g (T2), 1.00g (T3) and 1.5g (T4) after 2 weeks of acclimatization. Haematological parameters measured were: packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). While biochemical evaluated were total protein, albumin, globulin, uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol and glucose. Data obtained were subjected to one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomised design. RBC (3.64 – 3.76 X106/mL), Hb (3.64 – 12.86 g/dL), MCH (32.79 – 36.86 μμg) and MCHC (31.62 – 32.85%) showed significant difference (P<0.05), while PCV (39.00 – 41.00%), WBC (18.66 – 19.10 X109/mL), MCV (103.74 – 112.23 μ3) shows no significant difference (p>0.05). Total protein showed significant difference (P<0.05) with values ranging between 4.46 and 5.40 g/dL There exists significant difference (P<0.05) in the mean value of albumin, with highest value in 1.50g CP (5.40). Other biochemical parameters studied also showed significant differences (P<0.05) with the highest value in 1.50g CP. Drenching cocks with clove powder up to 1.5g was discovered posing no harmful effect on cocks.