Haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler starter chicks fed diets containing different levels of aqueous Citrus aurantium stem bark extract

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate some haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler starter fed diets having different levels of aqueous Citrus aurantium stem bark (CASR). A total of 200 - 1-day old broiler chicks (Arbo acres) were randomly distributed into 5 groups, each with 4 replicates consisting of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. The study lasted for 21 days during which clean feed and water were provided ad libitum. Treatment 1 (T1) basal diet + Ciprofloxacin 0.2 mL/litre of water, T2 (basal diet + 10 mL/litre CASB), T3 (basal diet + 20 mL/litre CASR), T4 (basal diet + 30 mL/litre CASR) and T5 (basal diet + 40 mL/litre CASR). Results on haematological parameters showed that pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), monocytes, eosinophils and basophils were not significantly (P˃ 0.05) different among the treatment while white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes and heterophils were significantly (P˂ 0.05) influenced by the treatments. Feeding birds CASR 10 mL to 40 mL/liters increased the WBC and lymphocyte counts. Total protein, albumin, globulin and creatinine values were similar across the treatments (P˃ 0.05) while cholesterol and urea values decreases as the level of CASR increased across the treatments (P˂ 0.05). It was concluded that CASR could be fed to broiler chicks up to 40 mL per liter of water without causing any deleterious effect on the blood profile of birds.