Haematological and Serum Characteristics of Broiler Birds Fed Diets Supplemented with Varying Levels of Selenium Powder

Abstract

The haematology and serum components of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with selenium powder was investigated. A total of one hundred and fifty day old broilers were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments with ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was control with no Selenium supplementation, Treatments 2 and 3 had 0.3mg/kg 0.5mg/kg Selenium supplementation respectively.  Birds were vaccinated as schedule and acclimatized to rearing and feeding regime before data collection commenced.

Result indicated differences (P<0.05) in the final bodyweight and total weight gain of the experimental birds. Feed  conversion ratio of birds on high selenium (0.5mg) was superior that its counterparts in control and 0.3mg supplementation. The heamatological and serum characteristics were not significantly affected (P<0.05) across the treatments except the differential count of the blood. The activity of the blood enzymes measured increase with selenium supplementation whereas the cholesterol level fall significantly in birds fed selenium supplemented diets. The study showed that all the dietary inclusion satisfactory as feed for broiler chicken without any deleterious effect on performance and blood profile.  Inclusion level of 0.5mm/kg of selenium appeared to have better overall performance when fed to broiler chicken.

Keywords: selenium, broilers, haematology, serum