Response of Broiler Finisher Chickens Fed Locust Schistocera Gregaria Meal Based Diets on Haematology and Serum Biochemistry

ABSTRACTA 56-day feeding trial involving 200 day old chicks (Anak, 2000) while strain broiler chicks was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate, haematology und serum biochemistry of broilers fed locust (Schistocera gregaria) meal at dietary levels of 0, 2.50, 5.00 7.50 and 10%. At the end of the experiment, two birds were randomly selected from each replicate for haematological and serum biochemical indices. The sampled birds were bled from punctured brachial vein to collect 2mls of blood from each bird out of which 2mls was collected into bottle treated with Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate (EDTA) and tuken to the laboratory. The haematological variables in this study showed that there were significant differences observed in the Packed C'ell volume (PCV). Red Blood Cell (RBC), While Blood Cell (WBC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). lymphocytes and neutrophils except Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) of birds among the dietary Treatments. The PVC of birds ranged between 25.00-- 31.00% where birds in diets T3 and T2 had the least and the highest values respectively. The MCHC, lymphocytes and neutrophils of birds in experimental diets did not follow a particular trend but were comparable to those on the control diet. Most of the values recorded did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from the birds fed the control diet. Total serum proteins in albumin and globulin and glucose were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. (P>0.05) However, the highest serum protein was recorded in birds on 5.(0% locust meal diet. The creatinine and cholesterol ratio of birds on experimental diet were statistically influenced (P