HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF THE NIGERIAN LOCAL GROWER CHICKENS FED VARYING DIETARY LEVELS OF PALM KERNEL CAKE

The effect of feeding varying dietary levels of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the haematological parameters of the Nigerian local grower chicken was investigated. Sixty (60) nine-week old local chickens were randomly allotted to five experimental diets at four birds per three replicates. Five isonitrogenous (17% CP) grower diets containing 2,813 to 3,070 Kcal ME/kg with varying levels of 10, 15, 20 and 25% PKC used to replace maize and soybean in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 were formulated respectively. Diet 1 without PKC (0% PKC) was the control. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for ten weeks. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, platelets, heterophil and eosinophil were similar (p>0.05) among birds across diets whereas variations in white blood cell (15.95 to 19.53 x 106/mm3), lymphocytes (60.00 to 67.00%) and monocytes (0.67 to 2.00%) were significant (p<0.05). The haematological parameters obtained were within the normal range of values documented for healthy chicken. PKC added up to 25% in the diet of the Nigerian local grower chicken elicited no adverse effect on the hematology