Carcass characteristics and haemato-biochemical profile of broiler chickens fed diet supplemented with papaya (Carica papaya) leaves powder

Abstract

A total of 192 day-old broiler (Vencobb-430Y) chicks were uniformly distributed into four treatment groups with 48 birds per treatment for a period of 42 days. The dietary treatments were T1: Basal diet (BIS, 2007), T2: Basal diet + 0.5%, T3: Basal diet + 1.0% and T4: Basal diet + 2.0% of papaya (Carica papaya) leaves powder was supplemented. The carcass characteristics and haemato-biochemical parameters were studied at the end of the experiment. Results revealed that there was no effect (p>0.05) on dressed weight and percentage in broiler chickens. Papaya leaves powder supplementation had no effect (p>0.05) on liver, heart, gizzard, kidney and spleen weights of broiler chickens. Papaya leaves powder supplementation did not influence haemoglobin and haematocrit concentrations in broiler chickens. There was significantly lower glucose, cholesterol and SGOT concentrations were observed in the T4 group as compared to the T1 group. The serum total protein concentrations in broiler chickens were significantly higher in T3 group. The serum triglyceride concentrations were significantly (p