How Diets Containing Raw Senna Obtusifolia Seed Meal Supplemented with Multi-Enzymes Affected Performance and Blood Characteristics of Finisher Broiler Chickens

This study was conducted to evaluate how raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal (SOSM) supplemented with multi-enzymes affected performance and blood characteristics of finisher broiler chickens. Ninety-six-day-old unsexed broiler chicks of agrited strain were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments of twenty-four (24) birds each. Each treatment was replicated thrice with eight (8) birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The four (4) treatments designated as T1 to T4 were diets formulated such that Treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 diets contained 0%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% raw SOSM. Maxigrain®, a multi-grade feed enzyme, was added at 20 g/100 kg to each of the diets, except T1 diet, which served as control at both starter and finisher phases. Initial weights of the birds were taken before commencement of the experiment and subsequently on weekly basis till the end of the experiment, which lasted for 56 days. At the end of the experiment, one bird per replicate was selected for collection of blood for hematological parameters. This was done by severing the jugular veins of the birds and blood collected into sterile sample bottles containing EDTA as anti-coagulant. The samples were immediately taken to the laboratory for analysis, using digital hematology analyser. Performance parameters evaluated were initial weight, final weight, weight gain, average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency ratio, daily protein intake and protein efficiency ratio. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of variance using SPSS version 25 and significant difference was determined using Duncan New multiple range test using SPSS version 25.0.The results showed that enzymes supplementation in finisher broiler chickens diets fed with raw SOSM did not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced all the performance parameters. The final live weights were 2363.33 g, 1900.00 g, 1833.33 g and 1900.00 g for birds fed with T1, T2, T3 and T4 diets. Also, the average daily weight gain were 41.57 g, 33.29 g, 32.11 g and 33.29 g for birds fed with T1, T2, T3 and T4 diets respectively. The average daily feed intake were 82.16, 109.36, 135.59 and 116.36 g/b/d for birds fed with T1, T2, T3 and T4 diets respectively. The feed conversion ratio obtained were 0.04 g, 0.06 g, 0.07 g and 0.06g. It was also observed that enzymes supplementation in finisher broiler chickens diets containing raw SOSM did not significantly (P >0.05) influenced all the hematological indices measured. From the results, non-significant difference (P>0.05) was observed for all hematological parameters measured, except white blood differentials. This suggested that the diet was not toxic to the animals. The PCV values ranged from 30.83% to 34.46% for birds fed T1 to T5 diets. Values of white blood cells (WBC) ranged from 50.06 to 58.43 across treatments. The values of hemoglobin (Hb) obtained in this study ranged from 11.33 g/dl to 12.10 g/dl. The red blood cells (RBC) values ranged from 2.50 x106µl to 2.70 x 106 µl. It was further observed that birds fed T2 and T5 diets recorded numerically lower RBC values of 2.52 and 2.50 x 106µl respectively. The mean values of platelets obtained in this study ranged from 1.33 for birds fed T2 diet to 5.00 for birds fed T5 diet. Others were 6.67 for T1 diet, 3.67 for T3 diet and 4.33 for T4 diet. Apart from basophils, all other WBC differentials showed significant (P0.05) in all parameters measured, except high density lipoproteins (HDL), which differed significantly (P<0.05) across treatment means. The values of total cholesterol (TC) did not differ significantly but ranged from 2.30 to 2.94mg/dl. However, means across treatments were 2.93mg/dl, 2.84mg/dl, 2.94, 2.30 and 2.92mg/dl for birds fedT1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 diets in that order. Mean values of triacylglycerol obtained across treatments were 0.59, 0.41, 0.73, 0.65 and 0.45 for birds fed T1 - T5 diets. There was significant difference (P<0.05) in the values of high density lipoproteins (HDL) for birds fed P. guineense leaf meal. The values of HDL obtained in this study ranged from 1.69 – 2.31mg/dl. The lowest value of 1.69mg/dl was obtained in birds fed T4 (7.5% PGLM) diet while the highest value of 2.31mg/dl was obtained in birds fed control (T1 – 0%PGLM) diet. Mean values of HDL obtained across treatment in this study were 2.31, 2.19, 2.25, 1.69 and 2.05 mg/dl for birds fed T1 to T5 diets respectively. It was further observed that HDL values for birds fed T1, T2, T3 and T5 were statistically similar but differ significantly from HDL values of broiler chickens fed T4 diet. The low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) were not significantly different across treatment means. In conclusion, supplementation of multiple enzymes effectively enhanced the utilization of raw SOSM at 10% level of inclusion in finisher broiler chickens diets by improving overall growth performance, without any deleterious effect on the birds, as observed in the hematological results.