Influence of dietary supplemented glutamate on growth performance, haematological and serum indices of broiler chickens in hot tropical environment

This study investigated the impact of glutamate on growth, haematological and serum indices of broiler chickens in hot tropical environment (> 30ºc). One-hundred-and-sixty-day old Arbor acre male broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four dietary treatment groups of four replicates having 10 chicks per replicate in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments groups contain different inclusion levels of glutamate (basal diet + 0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% glutamate (G), in an open sided pen). The experiment lasted for seven weeks during which data were collected on growth, heamatological and serum indices. Result showed birds fed diet containing 0.9% G at the starter phase had (P < 0.05) increased feed intake compared to other treatment groups. Inclusion of 0.6% G at the finisher phase (P < 0.05) improved final weight and weight gain in birds compared to 0.3% G group. Best feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) was obtained from birds fed diet containing 0.6% G compared to birds on 0.3% and 0.9% inclusion. Inclusion of 0.6% G at the starter phase (P < 0.05) improved total protein. Increased mean corpuscular haemoglobin (P < 0.05) was obtained from birds on 0.6% G compared to lower mean values obtained from birds on 0.3% G. The study concluded that inclusion of glutamate in the diet of broiler chickens at 0.6% improved final weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio without causing any adverse effect on blood indices of broiler chickens as glutamate increased serum protein and mean corpuscular haemoglobin of broiler chickens.