Studies on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of Broiler Chickens Finished on an Unprocessed and Processed Velvet Bean ( Mucuna Pruriens   (L.)) as Dietary Protein Sources

The effects of different processed velvet seed on haematology and serum indices of Broiler chickens was studied using 150 four weeks old broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of 30 birds with three replications of 10 birds each. The chickens were finished on five dietary treatments formulated to contain 5% raw, soaked and boiled, cracked and boiled and roasted velvet bean seed meal as protein source in diets 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The haematological parameters indicated no significant difference (P> 0.05) among treatment groups for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCHC and PLT while MCV and MCH differ significantly (P< 0.05) where chickens on treatment T₃ (boiled) had the highest values of 133.33 fl and 42.80 pg while lower values were chickens in T₄ (cracked and boiled) 123.90 fl and 39.80 pg as the lowest. Urea concentration range of 7.88-10.08 mmol/l obtained with significant difference (P< 0.05) among treatment groups with T₅(roasted) having value of 10.08 mmol/l and T₂ (soaked) having least value of sodium 7.88 mmol/l. Serum electrolytes such as Sodium (Na⁺), Chloride (Cl^-) and bicarbonate showed significant (P< 0.05) difference among treatment groups. The study concluded that, on account of adequate haematocrit and immune statuses, in addition to its hypoglycaemic ability, boiling mucuna seed meal with 5.00 % level of inclusion can be used without any deleterious effect on haematological and serum biochemical assay parameters of broiler chickens.

Keywords
Velvet bean seeds; Haematology; Biochemistry Assay; Carcass Characteristics