Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens fed Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Curcumin longa Blend
This study evaluated the effects of processed Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum and Curcumin longa as feed additives on haematology and biochemistry indices of broiler chickens. A total of 240-day-old chicks were used for the study. The chicks were assigned to four diets: Diet 1 (control), Diet 2 (Curcumin longa + Zingiber officinale), Diet 3 (Curcumin longa + Allium sativum), and Diet 4 (Allium sativum + Zingiber officinale), supplemented at 0.50 g/100 kg. Thirty chicks were allocated to each treatment in a completely randomized design with 10 chicks per replicate. The results showed significant effect (P<0.05) of the treatments on haematogical parameters (PCV, Hb, RBC, lymphocytes and heterophils). Birds fed diets 4 had higher (P<0.05) Hb (11.90g/dl), which was not significantly different from D3. RBC (3.06 and 3.16 (x106/mm3) and lymphocytes (62.33 and 62.33%) levels were significantly higher (P<0.05) in birds fed diets 3 and 4. The serum indices of the birds fed diet 4 had significant (P<0.05) higher total protein (3.73g/dl) and albumin (1.91g/dl). The urea (19.92mg/dl, 20.05mg/dl and 20.39mg/dl) and ALP (71.39U/L, 70.90U/L and 71.69U/L) content were significantly higher (P<0.05) in D1, D2 and D4, while the AST (64.60U/L) was higher (P<0.05) in D1 but similar (P>0.05) to D2 and D4. The study showed that haematology and serum indices showed no deleterious effect on the birds fed the treatments. However, ginger and garlic blend followed by garlic and turmeric blend at 0.50% is recommended to be use in broiler diets as they showed better influence on blood parameters.
Keywords: Allium sativum, Curcuminonga, haematological parameters, serum indices, Zingiber officinale
