Authors : P.C.N. Alikwe, A.Y. Faremi and P.A. Egwaikhide
Abstract: The effect of various inclusion of rumen epithelial scraps as substitute for fish meal proteins on the feed intake, nitrogen retention, serum metabolites, enzymes and haematological parameters in broiler-chicks in their finisher phase were examined. Five set of meal with 0, 25, 50,75 and 100% inclusion of rumen epithelial scraps as substitute for fish meal proteins were formulated. About 100 days old chicks were fed a nutritionally sound starter mash for 4 weeks after which they were randomly divided into 5 groups and placed on the various formulated diets. The feed intake and the weight gain in each group was measured for the following 21 days after which the birds were sacrificed. Nitrogen retention, serum proteins, liver enzyme activities and haematological evaluation were carried out. The feed intake, nitrogen retention and the weight gain in broiler-chicks fed 75 and 100% RES inclusion diet were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of broiler-chicks fed 0, 25 and 50% RES inclusion diet. The albumin/globulin ratio in broiler-chicks fed 100% RES inclusion diet was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of broiler-chicks in other groups. Mean Cell Heamoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Mean Cell Volume (MCV) in broiler-chicks fed 0, 25 and 75% RES inclusion diet were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of broiler-chicks fed 50 and 100%, RES inclusion diet. However, neutrophils of broiler-chicks fed 0, 25 and 50% RES inclusion diets were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of 75 and 100% RES inclusion diets. The Pack Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglo bin Concentration (HBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), lymphocytes and monocytes compared favourably in all the groups. The liver alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase acivities in all the groups examined compared favourably. It infered that the 25 and 50% RES inclusion as substitute for fish meal protein could be employed to maintain the quality of the broiler-chicks while minimizing the high cost of whole fish meal since RES is an abattoir by-product that is available locally.
P.C.N. Alikwe, A.Y. Faremi and P.A. Egwaikhide, 2010. Biochemical Evaluation of Serum Metabolites, Enzymes and Haematological Indices of Broiler-Chicks Fed with Varying Levels of Rumen Epithelial Scraps in Place of Fish Meal Proteins. Research Journal of Poultry Sciences, 3: 27-31.