Haematology and Serum Indices of Finisher Broiler Chickens Fed Acidified Blood Meal-based Diets

The effects of Biotronics SER (an acidifier) in a blood meal-based diet on haematology and serum indices of broiler finishers were assessed in this study. One hundred and eighty, one-day old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments in triplicates of 15 birds per replicate. Birds were initially raised on broiler starter diet devoid of blood meal and subsequently placed on experimental blood meal based finisher ration for another four weeks. T1 (control diet) with no blood meal or acidifier, T2 (Co-supplementation of 0.3% biotronics and 2% blood meal), T3 had 2% blood meal supplementation while T4 had 0.3% acidifier. Birds were offered feed and water ad-libitum. Dietary acidifier in blood meal based diets had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on all determined haematological indices of broiler chickens. Serum aspartate amino transferase (AST) levels 49.46, 42.53, 41.76 IU/dL was similar (P>0.05) for T1, T2 and T4, respectively but differed significantly from T3 with AST value of 29.77 IU/dL. However, dietary acidified supplemented group revealed variable results in serum protein indices (total protein, globulin and albumin). Co-supplementation of acidifier and blood meal elevated serum cholesterol but lowered serum uric acid. Dietary acidifier at 0.3% for finisher broiler chicken in blood meal-based diets had no adverse influence on the haematological profile of broilers. Conversely, it altered most serum indices which may have implied on the metabolism of nutrients in the fed chickens.