INTRODUCTION
Broiler production represents nearly
33% of global meat production and is a source of protein that plays an
important role in human nutrition (FAO, 2010). Modern intensive poultry
production produces market ready broiler chickens within six weeks of their
age, this achievement arises from improved productivity via genetic selection,
improved feeding and health management practices involving usage of antibiotics
as therapeutic agents to treat bacterial diseases and as feed additives for
growth promotion (Apata, 2009). One of the major
challenges faced by the poultry industry in the developing world is improving
efficiency of production. There are various ways to meet up with this challenge
and maintain the efficiency of feed utilization, these include incorporation of
genetics selection, antimicrobials and other natural products, such as
antibiotics as therapeutic agents to treat bacterial diseases and as feed
additives for growth promotion, probiotics, vitamin supplements and antibodies
to animal feeds and pelleting of feed, all decrease the time that an animal
requires to reach market weight, reducing feed and overall cost (Kanwal et al.,
2017).
Hematological
and blood biochemical diagnosis of disease in human and veterinary medicine
within individuals or a population is well established. The ability to compare
individual data to a known healthy population mean can be used to identify
outliers and diagnose specific disorders (Lindholm
and Altimiras, 2016). However, hematological studies
are very important in diagnosing the structural and functional status of the
animals body (Elagib et al., 2011). Hematological changes are routinely used to
determine various influences of environmental, nutritional and or pathological
factors (Graczyk et
al., 2003). A meta-analysis of haematological parameters
allowed comparison of domesticated chickens (commercial or indigenous) with the
ancestral red jungle fowl, with wild birds in the order Galliformes
and with wild birds. Major differences were observed with haematocrit
(HCT)/packed cell volume (PCV). The HCT/PCV was very similar between the
ancestral species from which chickens were domesticated, the red jungle fowl
(Gallus gallus) and wild birds in the order Galliformes (Scanes and
Christensen, 2014). Such information apart from being useful for diagnostic and
management purposes could equally be incorporated into breeding programmes for genetic improvement of indigenous chickens (Kral and Sachy, 2000). For proper
management of broiler chicken, it is desirable to know the normal physiological
values under normal situation. For example, high PCV (%) and high Hb (g/dl) are
indicators of high feed conversion efficiency (Nyaulingo,
2013). The haematological parameters of healthy birds
are influenced by many factors which include feed restriction and nutrient
conditions (Etim et
al., 2014), environmental factors (Vecerek et al., 2002; Graczyk
et al., 2003), fasting (Lamosova et al.,
2004), nutritional contents (Bashar et al.,
2010), water and feed restriction (Iheukwumere and
Herbert, 2003; Boostani et al., 2010), age (Talebi et al., 2005), continuous
supplementations of vitamin E (Tras et al., 2000), administration of drugs
(Squires and Julian, 2001; Suresh et al.,
2012), breed (Mushi et al., 1999) and aflatoxin (Oguz et al.,
2000). Various studies have been done on the effect of food supplements,
different diets (nutrition), management system, sex and breed on hematological
parameters of broiler chickens and wild birds in the order Galliformes.
The objective of this study is to know the effect of sex and genotype on
Hematological parameters of four commercial broiler chickens.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
Experimental
Site
The experiment was carried out at the Poultry
Unit of Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
Oyo State, Nigeria. Ogbomoso is situated in the
derived savannah zone of Nigeria on longitude 4o 15 east and
latitude 8o 15 north east of the Greenwich Meridian. The attitude between 300 and 600m above sea level. The mean
annual rainfall and temperature are 1247mm and 27oC respectively (Ewetola, 2015).
Experimental
Birds and Management
A total of 200 day-old commercial broiler
chicks were used for this study. The birds were randomized and allotted to pens in a
brooder house. They were brooded with the aid of kerosene stoves and charcoal
as heat source and reared on deep litter from day-old to 8 weeks of age. All
the chicks were fed ad libitum with a broiler starter feed containing 23.75%
Crude Protein (CP) and 3,038.64 MEKcal/kg upto 4 weeks of age; thereafter the birds were given
broiler finisher diet containing 19.95% CP and 3,102.00 MEKcal/kg
upto 8 weeks in accordance with NRC (1994) nutrient
standard for broiler birds. Fresh, cool drinking water was also given ad
libitum. Vaccination and other routine medication were carried out as at and
when due. The birds were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and
thereafter at weekly intervals. Weight of birds were measured individually by
using a sensitive digital electronic balance scale in gram, other linear body
measurements were measured using tape rule in centimeter.
Data
collection
During the period of 8 weeks, records were
kept everyday on Body weight (BDW), this was measured using digital electronic
weighing balance of 3,000g capacity. The neck was gently straightened out and
the length was measured with a tape rule as Neck Length (NEL). Back Length
(BKL) was measured from the base of the neck to the uropygial
gland at the base of the tail, including the cape and saddle parts. Thigh
Length (THL) was taken from the hock joint to the hinge joint. The tarso-metatarsus (Shank Length) (SHL) was obtained by
measuring from the hock joint to the base of the three toes. Breast Width (BRW)
was measured across the keel bones from the left armpit to the right armpit.
Body Length (BDL) was measured as the distance between the base
of the neck to the cloaca. Wing Length (WNL) was measured from the shoulder
joint to the extremity of terminal phalanx. To ensure accuracy, each
measurement was taken twice. All the measurements were taken on weekly basis by
the same person using tape rule calibrated in centimeters (cm) up to 8 weeks of
age.
Statistical Analysis
All
data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using the genera
linear model of SAS (2003) and the same package procedure were used to separate
the mean difference. The model generated was fitted for the effects of sex
and genotype and their interaction.
Model
;
ᵞijk = ΅ + Gi
+ Sij + Eijk
ᵞijk=Individual
Observation
U = Overall Mean
Gi = Effect
of Genotype
Sj = Effect
of Sex
Eijk = The error.
Table 2, Table 1, The blood profiles of male
of arbor acre, cobb, marshall and ross revealed a
significant (P<0.05) difference
between across all parameters. A lower RBC count was recorded in Arbor acre
compare to other strains (0.00 ± 0.44b), arbor acre (88.50 ± 0.72a)
and cobb (89.28 ± 0.09a) are significantly
similar in LYM.
White
Blood Cell
The results showed that male arbor acre and
cobb had the highest WBC counts 5.84 and 4.99 respectively and are within the
normal range of 3.0-6.0, a similar observation by (Mitruka and
Rawnsley 1997, Lokhande
et al.,2009). There were no cases of
abnormal rise in the count of WBC and This could suggest
a greater ability of male arbor acre and cobb in fighting infections.
Red Blood
Cell
In this study, there was a reduced level of
concentration of RBC in all Strains, lower than the normal physiological range
or value of 4.214.84΅l observed by (Nyaulingo, 2013)
which can be attributed to an indication of poor nutrition especially dietary
deficiencies of iron, copper, vitamins, and amino acids.
Packed
cell volume
PCV% was found to be significantly
(P<0.05) higher in male Ross (29.55 %), than female arbor acre (27.65%). The
results in all strains were lower than the normal range of 35.90-41.00% by Wikivet (2013) and this could be an indication of anemia in
broiler chickens.
Mean
corpuscular volume
Mean corpuscular volume is the expression of
the average volume of individual red blood cell. Increased MCV values recorded
in this study was in agreement with Talebi et al.,(2005).
The values obtained were far greater in all strains than the normal
physiological ranges of Jain (1986) and Wikivet
(2012). This may be as a result of reduced values of Red Blood Cells.
Mean
Corpuscular Hemoglobin
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin
is the mean mass of haemoglobin per red blood cell in
a given sample of blood, so it is dependent on haemoglobin.
MCH values in this study are closely related in arbor acre and cobb. The MCH values obtained in this study is far greater
than the normal physiological ranges of Jain (1986), that is 56.03 ± 1.64a
and 44.90 ± 0.08a in male and female of arbor acre and cobb. Though the result of Hb
concentration obtained is lower than the normal physiological values.
Mean
Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration
The mean corpuscular haemoglobin
concentration measures the concentration of haemoglobin
in a given volume of packed red blood cells. In this study, the result of female
Ross and Arbor acre 34.40 ± 0.27a
and 30.50 ± 0.15c respectively shows a close correlation with the observation reported by Wikivet (2013) who observed 32.41 33.37% (MCHC) as the
normal hematological value for bird.
Lymphocytes
The result of this study shows that Cobb has
the highest lymphocytes counts in both male and female broilers (109.82 ± 5.38a
and 89.28 ± 0.09a) respectively and as such lymphocytes are
important in forming barriers against local disease conditions and may be
involved in antibody formation in cobb broiler.
Hemoglobin
There was a reduced Hb
count in all broiler strains irrespective of sex to the normal range of 11.60
to 13.68 g/dl reported by Wikivet (2013). And
According to Nse et
al., (2014) observation, a decrease in the quantity of RBC and Hb are indications of poor nutrition especially dietary
deficiencies of iron, copper, vitamins and amino acids.
CONCLUSION
From this study, it can be concluded that sex
and genotype of broilers had a significant (p<0.05) effect on different
hematological parameters like WBC, lymphocytes, PCV, MCH and MCHC. There were
no cases of abnormal rise in the count of WBC and this could suggest a greater
ability of male arbor acre and cobb in fighting
infections.
Recommendation
The result of the study is helpful for
accurate interpretation of hematological parameters of commercial broiler
chickens. It is therefore recommended that for profitable broiler production in
the tropics, Cobb and Arbor Acre males be considered due to their ability to
fight infections.
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