Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the effect of phytogenic additives on haematological indices and serum metabolites of broiler chickens fed diet containing Zysygium aromaticum, Xylopia aethiopica and Morinda lucida. One hundred and eighty, 1- day- old hubbard broiler chicks obtained from a reputable hatchery were used. Birds were randomly divided into six dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each dietary group was replicated thrice with ten birds per replicate. Dietary treatment are as follow: 1. control (basal diet),                        2.  Antibiotics ( basal diet + 1 g Amoxycol® wsp containing Amoxycillin 200 mg + Collistin sulphate 1000000 iu /kg diet), 3. Morinda lucida (basal diet + 1 g Morinda lucida / kg diet) 4. Basal diet + Morinda lucida and Xylopia aethiopica each at 0.5 g/diet, 5. Basal diet + Morinda lucida and Syzygium aromaticum each at 0.5 g/diet while 6 contained mixtures basal diet + Morinda lucida, Xylopia aethiopica and Syzygium aromaticum each at 0.33 g/kg diet. Birds were fed ad libitum with dietary treatment for the period of 56 days. The use of Morinda, Morinda+ Zysygium, Morinda + Xylopia and mixtures of all the phytogenic plants showed improved PCV concentration compared to control. Birds fed Morinda, Morinda+ Xylopia had highest (p<0.05) neutrophil. Birds fed antibiotics and those fed Morinda + Zysygium showed increased (p<0.05) lymphocyte counts. Highest (p<0.05) monocyte concentration was recorded in broiler fed Morinda+ Zysygium. The serum biochemistry of the broilers were affected following dietary inclusion of the phytogenic plants. In conclusion, the use of Morinda, Morinda+ Zysygium, Morinda + Xylopia and mixtures of all the phytogenic plants showed improved PCV. The various phytogenic plants has significant (p<0.05) effect on serum biochemistry, total protein, globulin, albumin and serum cholesterol of the broiler chickens.