Abstract
Escalating feed costs have significantly impacted the poultry industry in developing countries like Nigeria, constituting a substantial portion of total expenses. This has motivated the exploration of unconventional and cost-effective feed ingredients like sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) seed meal. This study was conducted to assess the heamatological and biochemical indices of broiler chickens when fed varying levels of boiled sorrel Seed Meal (BSSM). One hundred and thirty-five-day old Anak broiler chicks were utilized in a completely randomized design (CRD). The chicks were divided into three dietary groups, each with three replicates containing 15 birds per replicate, totaling 45 birds per treatment. During the starter and finisher phases, three diets were formulated, incorporating boiled sorrel seed meal to replace soya bean meal at levels of 10% and, 20% respectively. At six weeks of age, blood samples were collected via venipuncture of the wing vein using a 3 ml syringe and 23-gauge needle. The samples were immediately separated into two tubes: one containing ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) for heamatological analysis and the other without anticoagulant for serum biochemical analysis. The heamatological parameters were determined using an automatic fully digital heamatology analyzer (Boevopeak Ltd, China), while biochemical parameters were determined by universal clinical auto analyzer (Boevopeak Ltd, China). Results of heamatological indices revealed no significant differences in packed cell volume (PCV), heamoglobin concentration (Hb), and red blood cells (RBC). Differential blood counts did not show significant differences except for lymphocyte levels which displayed some significance. Serum biochemical parameters including total protein (albumin and globulin), triglycerides, and glucose did not exhibit significance. However, alanine transaminase levels showed significance with the inclusion of sorrel seed meal.
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