Haematological and Serum Biochemistry Indices of Starter Turkeys Fed Diets Containing Graded Levels of Flashed-Dried Cassava Pulp

Abstract

The use of flash-dried cassava pulp as a feed ingredient in poultry production is limited by concerns about its impact on animal health, necessitating an evaluation of its effects on haematological and serum biochemistry indices of turkey starters. One hundred and twenty (120) day-old British United Turkey (BUT) poults were sourced from a reputable farm in Nigeria. Poults were brooded for 28 days, during which prestarter diet was offered. Thereafter, starter turkeys (29-56 days) were randomly assigned into four (4) dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Thirty (30) turkey starters were assigned in each treatment and replicated six (6) times with five (5) birds per replicate. The test feeds were formulated so that flashed-fried cassava pulp (FDCP) partially replaced maize at level of 0, 5, 10 and 15% in starting phase. Water and feed were supplied ad-libitum. At the 7th week, 3 mls blood samples were collected via the wing vein into vials containing ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) as an anti-coagulant for the determination of haematological indices. Another set (3 mls) of blood samples were collected into heparinized tubes for serum biochemistry analysis using standard procedures. Results showed that mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, hemoglobin, cholesterol, alkaline phosphate (ALP) and density bilirubin were significantly affected (p<0.05). MCV significantly (p<0.05) ranged between 94.07 and 127.32 (fl),MCH ranged between 31.27 and 41.27 (pg), WBC ranged between 12.13 and 13.87 (x 109/l), lymphocytes between 67.67 and 71.00 (%), monocytes between 0.00 and 1.67 (%), haemoglobin between 11.10 and 12.50 (g/l), 93.57 and 139.53 (mg/dl), cholesterol between, ALP between 13.00 and 42.00 (U/L) and density bilirubin between 0.02 and 0.06 (mg/dl). Conclusively, up to 15% flashed-dried cassava pulp did not pose negative effects on haematological and serum biochemistry indices of turkey at starting phase.