Haematology and Performance Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Dried Cashew Apple as Replacement for Maize

Abstract

Conventional feed ingredients like maize have become more expensive due to competition between man, industry and livestock. Alternative ingredients such as dried cashew apple pulp have become a major focus of the broiler industry. This study was to evaluate the effect of replacing maize with dried cashew apple pulp (DCAP) in broilers chicken diets on haematology and performance characteristics. A total of 250 four weeks old Arbor Acre plus commercial broiler chickens were randomly selected and assigned to 5 dietary groups of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% DCAP replacement for maize in a twenty- eight day trial in a complete randomized design. Each group comprised 5 replicates of 10 birds each. Blood from the birds was collected for haematological parameters using a standard procedure. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA α 0.05There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in haemoglobin red blood cell count, white blood cell count, mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH). It was observed that 10% replacement level had the highest final weight, weight gain and least feed conversion ratio (FCR) while 20% replacement level had the least final weight, weight gain and highest FCR. Dried cashew apple therefore, can be used successfully at 10% replacement for maize without deleterious effect to performance characteristics and haematological indices.