Effects of Supplementation of Pleurotus tuber-regium (King tuber) on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broilers in Humid Tropical Environment

Abstract

This research investigated and analysed effect of oral supplementation of the Nigerian giant mushroom (Pleurotus tuber-regium) on some hematological and serum biochemical profiles in broiler chickens and their ability to use it as a natural supplement to promote their health. A total of 160 of day-old Arbor Acre broilers (40.00 + 0.55 g) were randomly distributed among four groups in a completely randomized design of ten broiler chicks per replicate and four replicates per treatment for a period of 56 days in a deep litter system of housing under natural ambient temperature. Chicks were fed with the four experimental diets as treatment (0, 10, 20 and 30% supplement of P. Tuber-regium), blood collected on day 56 was subjected to hematological and biochemical analyses in the laboratory. Blood parameters and some selected biochemical components (in the serum) were analysed at the end of feeding trial by six birds per replicate, and the results were analyzed using SAS (2004), and treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple range test. The Haematological profile revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in Packed cell Volume, Hb, RBC and WBC level of broiler birds supplemented with a diet contain P. Tuber-regium than the control diet, which was within the range of biological value for healthy broilers chicken. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) on the studied biochemical parameter, and it was conclude that feeding with 10%, 20% and 30% supplement did not interfere with major biochemical function of birds, from where the Nigerian giant mushroom (Pleurotus tuber-regium) was adjudged to be good enough to be used as a supplement in broiler diets.