Abstract

Bello Alao, David Njoku, Ade Awojobi

Sixty - 28 days old unsexed marshal breed of finisher broiler birds were used in four weeks feeding trial to assess the effects of Cassava pulp seviate meal (CPSM) as energy feed ingredient on hematological profile of the birds. The birds were randomly allotted to four treatment diets with four varying levels of (CPSM) as T1 (0% CPSM), T2 (10% CPSM), T3 (20% CPSM), and T4 (30% CPSM) respectively. The birds were as well divided into three treatment groups of 15 birds per group and each group was further replicated three times in a completely randomized design of five birds per replicate. Drinking water and feed were supplied regularly, while adequate sanitation and medication programs were carried out. At the fourth week of the feeding trial, two birds were randomly selected from each replicate and 10 ml of blood were collected from each bird with 10 ml sterile syringe. The blood sample collected was used to assess the haematological values of the experimental birds. However, the results obtained from the experiment, indicated that the haemotological values of the experimental birds decreased as the inclusion levels of cassava pulp seviate meal increased in their diets even though it did not show any deleterious effect on the birds. However, the result showed that 20% of cassava pulp seviate meal could be included in the finisher broiler diet without any deleterious effect on the birds’ general health and performance. The result also showed that above 20% (CPSM) in Finisher broiler birds’ diet, the haematological values were affected which invariably resulted to the poor performance of the birds placed at the high level of CPSM. However, 20% cassava pulp sievate appears to be the optimal inclusion level in finisher broiler birds. Key words: Cassava pulp seviate meal, mai