1. HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GROWER CHICKENS FED VARYING DIETARY LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE
- Author
-
Kolawole Daniel Afolabi, Akintunde Olaleye Akinsoyinu, Abdur-Rahman Oladele Abdullah, Rotimi Olajide, and Sule Bamidele Akinleye
- Subjects
hematological parameters ,local chickens ,palm kernel cake ,Agriculture (General) ,S1-972 ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
The effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the haematological parameters of the Nigerian local grower chicken was investigated. Sixty (60) nine-week old local chickens were randomly allotted to five experimental diets at four birds per three replicates. Five isonitrogenous (17% CP) grower diets containing 2,813 to 3,070 Kcal ME/kg with varying levels of 10, 15, 20 and 25% PKC used to replace maize and soybean in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were formulated respectively. Diet 1 without PKC (0% PKC) was the control. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for ten weeks. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, platelets, heterophil and eosinophil were similar (p>0.05) among birds across diets whereas variations in white blood cell (15.95 to 19.53 x 106/mm3), lymphocytes (60.00 to 67.00%) and monocytes (0.67 to 2.00%) were significant (p
- Published
- 2011