Haematology, Serum Biochemistry and Liver Antioxidants of Broiler Chickens Fed Moringa Leaf Meal Supplemented Diets as a Substitute to Dietary Soybean Meal
Publication Date: 09/09/2019
Author(s): Imoru A.
Volume/Issue: Volume 2 , Issue 2 (2019)
Abstract:
A four-week investigation was conducted to determine the influence of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal on the haematology, serum biochemistry and the liver antioxidant enzymes of broiler chickens at finishing stage. Two hundred birds were divided into 5 treatments and fed diets containing varying levels of moringa leaf meal (MLM) at the levels of 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50% to represent T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Each treatment group with 40 birds was further divided into 4 replicates of ten birds. The haematological variables of the chickens did not follow a particular trend and no significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in all the parameters measured but all were within the normal range documented for chickens which ranged as follows: haemoglobin (Hb) 8.15 to 9.75g/100, pack cell volume (PCV) 28.5 to 37.75%, red blood cells (RBC) (106mm-3) ranged from 2.84 to 4.09 and erythrocytes sedimentation rates (ESR), 2.50 to 4.38mm/hr. The serum biochemical indices indicated no significant (p>0.05) difference for total protein but there was a significant (p<0.05) effect in cholesterol with the highest content of 108.98g/dL found in T1 while the lowest, 93.64g/dL was recorded in T5. Serum albumin increased (p<0.05) with increase in MLM levels ranging from 2.90 in T1 to 4.70g/dL in T5. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were also significantly (p0.05) difference though superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. These results revealed that moringa supplementation in broiler finishers’ diets have no adverse effects as shown in the haematological and biochemical parameters as serum cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) reduced.
