Physiological, Serum and Haematological Responses of Broiler Fed Honey at Varying Levels of Inclusion in the Diet

Abstract

This research was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. It was design to examine the serum and haematological parameters responses of broilers fed with honey at varying levels of inclusion in the diet during hot season. One hundred and fifty six day old broiler chicks were purchased from hatchery. The birds were allotted into four treatments (T1, T2, T3, and T4 respectively) randomly and replicated in a completely randomized design. It was observed that there were no significant effect on the haematological parameters (P>0.05), though, the treatment has the capacity to increase the RBC and eosinophil. This study also showed that there was significant different between the T1 and the treatment at levels 10 ml, 20 ml and 30 ml of honey inclusion in the feed respectively. The average daily weight gains, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of the broilers were significantly different among the treatments. This result indicated that the plasma protein produced by the liver which also added to the viscosity of blood was more in broiler fed with treated feed compared to that of the control. Therefore, this study indicated that honey can be used to maintain and regulate blood pressure in broiler because of the increase in the blood plasma protein (albumin) which exerts considerable osmotic pressure to maintain water balance between blood and tissues, and regulation of blood volume.

Keywords: Heat stress, albumin, feed intake, haematological parameters