The Performance and Haematological Indices of Broiler Chickens Fed Chromium Picolinate, and Vitamin C Supplemented Diets
Francis Bosede Adebayo
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Olufemi Adebayo Adu
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Clifford Adinma Chineke
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Olugbenga David Oloruntola *
Department of Animal Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria.
Oluwafolaranmi Segun Omoleye
Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Samuel Adebowale Adeyeye
Department of Animal Health and Production, The Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Nigeria.
Simeon Olugbenga Ayodele
Department of Agricultural Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study investigates the out-turn of ChromiumPicolinate (CrPic) and vitamin C dietary supplementation on the performance characteristics and haematological indices of broiler chickens.
Study Design: The completely randomised design was used for this study.
Methodology: Six hundred and forty day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments (10 birds/replicate). A basal diet was fractionated into eight equal parts and labelled diets 1 to 8. Diets 1 to 4 were supplemented with 0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg/kg CrPic, respectively. The diets 5 to 8 were supplemented with 200 mg/kg vitamin C; 0.4 mg CrPic+200 mg vitamin C; 0.8 mg CrPic+200 mg vitamin C and 1.2 mg CrPic+200 mg Vitamin C, respectively.
Results: The final body weight (FBW) and relative growth rate (RGR) of the birds fed diets 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were significantly (P<0.05) higher to those fed the control diet and diet 4. The CrPic supplementation at 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg levels improved (P<0.05) the FBW and RGR of the birds, compared to the control. The vitamin c supplementation (200mg/kg) improved (P<0.05) the FBW and RGR of the birds. The haematological indices were stable (P>0.05) across the diets. However, the granulocytes count increased by the CrPic supplementations, compared to the control while lymphocytes count increased (P<0.05) by vitamin C supplementation.
Conclusion: The growth of the broiler chicken are enhanced by 0.4 to 0.8 mg/kg CrPic, 200 mg/kg vitamin C and combination of CrPic and vitamin C dietary supplementations without affecting main haematological indices of the birds.
Keywords: Avian, blood, chromium, growth, supplements, vitamin C