. Effect of fermented rice husk on growth performance and haematology of broiler chickens.

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate effect of rumen filtrate fermentation of rice husk meal on haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty ( 150) birds were used to carry out the research work. The rumen filtrate used were obtained from Minna Abattoir from slaughtered cattle while the rice husk were obtained from local rice millers around Gidan Kwano village within Minna metropolis. The rumen filtrate treated rice husk meals were included at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% to form diets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. The birds were randomly allocated to the five treatments groups, each group had three replicates and there were ten birds per replicate. The birds were supply with clean water and fed ad libitum from the beginning to the end of the experiment under a deep litter system. The experimental design used was complete randomized design (CRD). Data on White Blood Cells, Lymphocyte, Red Blood Cell, Haemoglobin, Packed Cell volume, and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration were measured. Serum electrolyte and biochemical parameters were also measured. All haematological parameters measured were not affected (P>0.05) by dietary treatments except the mean cell haemoglobin concentration. In the serum electrolyte and biochemical indices evaluated, fermented rice husk meal diets influenced (P<0.05) the sodium, chlorine and total bilirubin values of the experimental birds. However, the significant differences observed in all the parameters were within normal levels and are not detrimental to the health of the chickens .It is concluded that inclusion of rumen filtrate fermentation rice husk meal in the diets of broiler chickens had no adverse effect on the haemotological and the biochemical parameters measured.