Impact of Dietary Vitex doniana Leaf Meal on Blood Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Starter Broiler Chickens
Feed cost remains the most critical challenge confronting poultry farmers, largely due to competition between humans and livestock for conventional protein-rich feed ingredients such as maize and soybean meal. This has necessitated the search for alternative feed resources, including non-conventional leafy materials. This study evaluated the effects of Vitex doniana leaf meal (VDLM) on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens during the starter phase. A total of 120 unsexed day-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments: T1 (0.0% VDLM), T2 (2.5% VDLM), T3 (5.0% VDLM), and T4 (7.5% VDLM), each replicated three times with ten birds per replicate, in a Completely Randomised Design. Data were collected on haematological parameters including packed cell volume, red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, mean corpuscular indices, and platelet count, as well as serum biochemical indices such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, albumin, globulin, urea, glucose, total protein, and creatinine. The results revealed that most haematological and serum biochemical parameters differed significantly (P < 0.05) across treatments, except haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, which were not significantly affected (P > 0.05). The inclusion of VDLM at increasing levels influenced immune-related parameters such as lymphocytes and neutrophils, while alterations in liver enzyme activities (AST, ALT, ALP) and lipid profile indices suggested potential metabolic adjustments. Overall, the findings indicate that while VDLM can elicit physiological responses in broiler starters, higher inclusion levels may impose metabolic stress without conferring appreciable haematological benefits. It is therefore recommended that VDLM should not be adopted as a major dietary ingredient for broiler starter diets but could be explored as a phytogenic additive at minimal inclusion levels to support immune modulation.
Keywords: Vitex doniana, broiler starters, haematology, serum biochemistry, phytogenic additives, dietary inclusion.
