Abstract:
Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effect of beetroot juice (Beta vulgaris) as an additive on the performance, carcass characteristics and blood profile of broiler chicken. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 day-old Marshal broiler chicks were assigned to 4 treatments at 30 birds per treatment with 3 replicates of 10birds in a completely randomized design. Birds were kept in movable pens with feed and water offered ad libitum. Beetroot juice was administered in the bird’s drinking water every other day at 0 mL (T1), 10 mL (T2), 20 mL (T3) and 30 mL (T4) for 8 weeks. Different parameters measured included: feed intake, weekly weight gain, mortality rate, dressing percentages and blood parameters using standard procedures. Results were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the average daily feed intake and the average daily weight gain. Birds in T4 had the best feed conversion ratio of 1 .65. Treatments effects on packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cells (RBC) were significant (p<0.05) with T4 having the highest values of 40.33%, 11.96 g dL–1 and 3.82×106 uL respectively. Birds in T3 had the highest value (4.0%) of monocytes, while those in T1 had the lowest value (2.33%). Birds in T1 had the highest value of Eosinophil (4.33%) while birds in T4 had the lowest (0.33%). Serum biochemical parameters were significantly different (p<0.05); birds in T4 had the lowest glucose (150.58 mg dL–1), cholesterol (82.54 mg dL–1) and triglyceride (122.29 mg dL–1) values. With the exception of eviscerated liver and heart percentages, no differences were observed in the carcass characteristics. Conclusion: Findings from the study indicated that inclusion of beetroot juice (Beta vulgaris) in the drinking water of broiler chicken at 30ml can improve the growth performance, PCV, RBC and Hb and also reduce the Glucose, Cholesterol and Triglyceride levels of birds.