Serum biochemistry, haematological profile and organ proportion of broiler starter chicks fed graded levels of palm oil mill effluent (POME)

The experimental feeding trial conducted for 28 days was carried out to examine the serum biochemistry and haematological responses, organ proportion of broiler starter chickens fed graded levels of palm oil mill effluent (POME). A total of 240 (two hundred and forty) day old marshal broiler chicks strain were used for the study. The chicks were divided into 5 (five) treatment groups and within each group, replicated 4 (four) times at 12 chicks per replicate, feed and water were given ad libitum. Different graded/replacement levels of POME with maize at diet 1(control) (0%), diet 2 (6%), diet 3 (12%), diet 4 (18%) and diet 5 (24%) respectively were investigated to ascertain the health implications in feeding broiler chicks with POME by the blood profile and serum biochemical assessment in the study, using Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) using SPSS version 20, results were interpreted using Duncan New Multiple Range Test for means separation. Dietary POME intake affects significantly (p<0.05) serum protein, glucose blood levels, enzymes, cholesterol, triglyceride and haematological profile. Organs proportion like, liver, lungs, kidney, pancreas and large intestine were (p<0.05) affected by dietary treatment. Serum total protein, plasma protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, urea and alanine amino transferase and white blood cell were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Glucose, aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, pack cell volume, red blood cell, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, significantly increased (p<0.05). Cholesterol blood levels for diet 5 was higher (p<0.05). Triglyceride blood levels for control diet was higher (p<0.05). Cholesterol and triglyceride blood levels for diet 3 were (p<0.05) lowest. From the results obtained from these findings, POME may have possessed some nutritional values required to improve health and reproductive performance of the broiler chickens as alternative feeds replacement for maize.