Submit Manuscript

Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2011 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 9 | Page No.: 831-835
Facebook Twitter Digg Reddit Linkedin StumbleUpon E-mail
Research Article

Influence of Early Skip-a-day Feed Withdrawal on the Haematological Indices, Serum Protein and Nutrient Digestibility of Broilers

L. Bratte

ABSTRACT

In a study to determine the influence of early skip-a-day (SAD) feed withdrawal on the heamatology and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens, two hundred and twenty-five (225) Marshall broilers were, at day old, randomly assigned to 5 treatments of 45 chicks each, with each treatment having three replicates of 15 birds per replicate as follows: A full-fed control group (AL) and groups with feed withdrawn for 24 hours for 3 days (SAD-3), 4 days (SAD-4), 5 days (SAD-5) and 6 days (SAD-6) from 8th to 18th day of age after feeding them ad libitum for the first 7 days. Feed was provided ad libitum to all the chickens from 19 to 56 days of age. The birds were raised on deep litter. Heamatological variables measured or calculated on the 56th day included WBC, RBC, PCV, Hb, MCHC, MCH, MCV and total serum proteins. A metabolism trial was also carried out to determine the effect of feed restriction on nutrient digestibility/retention by the broilers. SAD feed withdrawal significantly (p<0.05) effected mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Red Blood Cell Counts (RBC), Haemoglobin content (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and total serum protein, while total leucocyte count (WBC), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) were unaffected. Each of the treatments to which the skip-a-day feed withdrawal was applied generally had a mean percent PCV value that was not significantly different from that of the control treatment group (AL). Birds feed-restricted beyond 4 days (SAD-5 and SAD-6) had significantly (p<0.05) lower mean RBC, Hb and MCHC values than birds in the control treatment group (AL). Feed restriction beyond 3 days significantly (p<0.05) lowered mean Hb and MCHC contents in relation to birds fed ad libitum thus indicating that the birds were not under stress from early SAD feed restriction imposed on them but were in a good state of health. Mean MCV was numerically higher at the most severe levels (SAD-5 and SAD-6) of early feed withdrawal compared with the control treatment, which is suggestive of increase in haemoglobin production at the more severe levels of feed withdrawal. The differences were, however, not significant (P>0.05). Serum protein was significantly lower for broilers feed-restricted for 5 and 6 days (5.90 and 5.60 g/dL respectively) than for the control, SAD-3 and SAD-4 treatments (6.40, 6.23 and 7.30 g/dL respectively). Variations in mean differential counts between treatments were not significant (p>0.05). However, basophil counts increased slightly while eosinophils decreased slightly in feed-restricted birds in relation to the control birds. Early feed withdrawal had no significant (p>0.05) effect on apparent dry matter and crude fibre digestibility. Nitrogen retention tended to increase as the severity of SAD feed withdrawal increased while mean fat retention for broilers subjected to 4, 5 or 6 days of SAD feed withdrawal were not significantly different from that of birds fed ad libitum. It was concluded that early skip-a-day feed withdrawal for up to 6 days did not lead to severe stress, or adversely alter nutrient digestibility and retention in the broilers.
PDF References Citation

Search

REFERENCES

  1. Alikwe, P.C.N., A.Y. Fayemi and P.A. Egwaikhide, 2010. Biochemical evaluation of serum metabolites, enzymes and haematological indices of broiler chicks fed with varying levels of rumen epithelial scraps in place of fish meal proteins. Res. J. Poult. Sci., 3: 27-31.
  2. Ajakaiye, J.J., A. Perez-Bello, M. Cuesta-Mazorra, J.R. Garcia-Diaz Jr. and A. Mollineda-Trujillo, 2010. Effects of vitamin C and E dietary supplementation on erythrocyte parameters of layer chickens reared in high ambient temperature and humidity. Revista Brasileira Ciencia Avicola, 12: 205-209.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  3. Allison, J.V., 1999. Human Physiology. 4th Edn., Blackwell Science Publications, UK., pp: 282-289.
  4. AOAC., 1990. Official Method of Analysis. 15th Edn., Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), Washington, DC., USA.
  5. Anosa, V.O. and T.T. Isoun, 1978. Haematological studies on domestic animals in Nigeria i. factors influencing the haematocrit of sheep and goats. Zentralbl Vet. A., 25: 640-646.
    PubMed
  6. Bogado, A.L.G., J.L. Garcia, P.F. Nunes da Silva, M.R.S. Balarin and J. Guimaraes Jr., 2010. Post-challenge hematological evaluation with virulent strain of Eimeria tenella in broilers immunized with attenuated strain or sporozoite proteins from homologous strain. Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet., Jaboticabal, 19: 1-6.
    Direct Link
  7. Dozier, W.A., R.J. Lien, J.B. Hess, S.E. Bilgili, R.W. Gordon, C.P. Laster and S.L. Vieira, 2002. Effects of early skip-a-day feed removal on broiler live performance and carcass yield. J. Appl. Poult. Res., 11: 297-303.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  8. Duncan, D.B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  9. Emenalom, O.O., B.O. Esonu, E.B. Etuk and C. Amaba, 2009. Effect of mucuna pruriens (velvet bean) leaf meal on performance and blood, composition of finishers broiler chicks. Nig. J. Anim. Prod., 36: 52-60.
  10. Frandson, J.O., 1981. Blood cell chemistry of young chickens during ACTH and cotizol. A demonstration. Poult. Sci., 47: 1811-1817.
  11. Graczyk, S., A. Pliszczak-Krol, B. Kotonski, J. Willzek and Z. Chmielak, 2003. Examination of haematological and metabolic changes mechanisms of acute stress in Turkeys. Elect. J. Polish Agric. Univ. Vet. Med., 6: 1-10.
  12. Hassan, S.M., M.E. Mady, A.L. Cartwright, H.M. Sabri and M.S. Mobarak, 2003. Effect of early feed restriction on reproductive performance in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Poult. Sci., 82: 1163-1169.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  13. Iheukwuemere, F.C., A.H. Abu and M. Ameh, 2006. Effect of human menopausal gonadotropin on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Nigerian indigenous chickens. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 5: 632-634.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  14. Iheukwumere, F.C. and U. Herbert, 2003. Physiological responses of broiler chickens to quantitative water restrictions: Haematology and serum biochemistry. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 2: 117-119.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  15. Jean, P., 1993. Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics. 1st Edn., Macmillan Publishers Ltd., USA., pp: 71-73.
  16. Khan, T.A. and F. Zafar, 2005. Haematological study in response to varying doses of estrogen in broiler chicken. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 4: 748-751.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  17. Maxwell, M.H., P.M. Hocking and G.W. Robertson, 1992. Differential leucocyte responses to various degrees of food restriction in broilers, turkeys and ducks. Br. Poult. Sci., 33: 177-187.
    PubMed
  18. Maxwell, M.H., G.W. Robertson, A.I. Anderson, L.A. Dick and M. Lynch, 1991. Haematology and histopathology of seven-week-old broilers after early food restriction. Res. Vet. Sci., 50: 290-297.
    PubMed
  19. Mitruka, B.M. and H.M. Rawley, 1977. Clinical Biochemical and Haematological Reference Values in Normal and Experimental Animals. Masson Publishing Inc., USA., pp: 134-135.
  20. MVM, 1986. The Merck Veterinary Manual. 6th Edn., Merck and Co., New Jersey.
  21. Novele, D.J., J.W.N. Ambi, D. Norris and C.A. Mbajiorgu, 2008. Effect of sex, level and period of feed restriction during the starter stage on productivity and carcass characteristics of ross 308 broiler chickens in South Africa. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 7: 530-537.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  22. Nworgu, F.C., S.A. Ogungbenro and K.S. Solesi, 2007. Performance and some serum blood chemistry indices of broiler chicken served fluted pumpkin (Telfaaria occidentalis) leaves extract supplement. Am. Eurasian J. Agric. Environ. Sci., 2: 90-98.
  23. Swanson, M.J., 1951. Effect of vitamin B12 concentrate and liver meal on the haematology of chicks fed on all plant protein. Am. J. Vet. Res., 12: 147-151.
    PubMed
  24. Talebi, A., S. Asri-Rezaei, R. Rozeh-Chai and R. Sahraei, 2005. Comparative studies on haematological values of broiler strains (Ross, Cobb, Arbor-acres and Arian). Int. J. Poult. Sci., 4: 573-579.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  25. Uchegbu, M.C., C.C. Ezuma, I.P. Ogbuewu and M.N. Opara, 2010. Physiological responses of finisher broilers to yam peel meal: Haematology and serum biochemistry. Electr. J. Environ. Agric. Food Chem., 9: 1657-1664.
    Direct Link
  26. Yu, M.W., F.E. Robinson, M.T. Clandinin and I. Bodnar, 1990. Growth and body composition of broiler chickens in response to different regimens of feed restriction. Poult. Sci., 69: 2074-2081.
    CrossRefDirect Link

Search

Related Articles

Effect of Human Menopausal Gonadotropin on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Nigerian Indigenous Chickens
Physiological Responses of Broiler Chickens to Quantitative Water Restrictions: Haematology and Serum Biochemistry
Haematological Study in Response to Varying Doses of Estrogen in Broiler Chicken
Effect of Sex, Level and Period of Feed Restriction During the Starter Stage on Productivity and Carcass Characteristics of Ross 308 Broiler Chickens in South Africa
Comparative Studies on Haematological Values of Broiler Strains (Ross, Cobb, Arbor-acres and Arian)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *