Serum biochemistry and haematological indices of broiler chickens fed graded levels of frog (Rana esculata) meal as replacement to fish meal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of graded levels of inclusion of frog (Rana esculata) meal as a replacement to fish meal on serum biochemical indices and haematological parameters of broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old Abor acre broiler chicks were used for the experiment that lasted 42 days. Birds were randomly allotted to 5 treatments of 6 replicates with 6 birds each. Frog meal was used to replace fish meal at a level of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%, respectively. Results showed there were no significant differences observed in the total serum protein and globulin of birds on the experimental diets. However, the albumin and albumin/ globulin ratio of birds on 50% and 100% frog meal level respectively compared with birds on the control diet. The urea level of birds on 100% fish meal and 100% frog meal was similar. There were no significant differences observed in the packed cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte and heterophils of birds on the experimental diets. However, there were significant (P<0.05) differences observed in the haemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils of birds fed the dietary treatments. Birds on 50% frog meal and 50% fish meal diets recorded the highest values of mean cell volume (88.39µ3) and mean cell haemoglobin (30.45µµg) respectively. It was therefore concluded that frog meal can adequately replace fish meal in broiler diets up to 100% without adverse effects on the blood profile.