Blood Indices of Broiler Finisher Birds Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Crayfish Waste Meal

 

Abstract

A study was carried out using 300 unsexed four weeks old Cobb bread of broiler finisher birds to evaluate their blood indices when fed 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% dietary inclusion levels of crayfish waste meal. The birds were randomly allotted to five treatment groups T₁, T_­2­­, T₃, T₄ and T₅ representing 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% dietary inclusion levels of crayfish waste meal respectively in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. On the 54^th day of age, 5 birds were randomly selected from each replicate, starved of feed but not water for 12hrs. 10ml of blood sample was drawn from each of the birds through the wing vein – with 5mls of it put into bottles containing anti-coagulant (Ethylene Diamine, Tetra Acetic acid) and used to access haematological indices while the other 5ml was put into sterile bottles to coagulate for the assessment of serum biochemical indices. All the blood indices investigated in this study did not differ significantly (p<0.05) among treatment means and did not follow any particular trend. All the values obtained fell within normal range for normal healthy chicken. Results suggest that crayfish waste meal protein possessed similar nutritional qualities as 100% fishmeal and can adequately replace fishmeal in the diets of broiler finisher birds.