Carcass characteristics and haematological indices of broiler chickens fed with diet supplemented with phytase additive:- Nwankwo, Joshua G.

ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted to determine the carcass characteristics and haematological indices of broilers fed diets supplemented with phytase additive at finisher phase.180 birds were procured at day old and were brooded and raised for four weeks prior to commencement of the data collection. The completely randomized design (CRD) was used as the experimental design. There were 5 treatments(T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) each replicating 3 times with 12 birds, treatment one was used as the control while the T2, T3, T4, T5 were added phytase enzyme in powered form into the feed in the level of 10g/kg, 15gkg, 20g/kg and 25g/kg respectively. The Experiment lasted for four weeks (28 days) two birds were selected at random from each replicate and slaughtered data collected were the carcass (Organ and cut parts characteristics) and the blood (haematology) samples were obtained from the wing vein using evacuated tubes and was analyze using standard haematological procedures. A significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in the MCHC of T3 but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) recorded in the percentage cut parts, dress weights, dress percentages and other haematological parameters. In conclusion, to improve organ and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. This research suggests a combination of different strains of enzymes in the feed. This study recommends that Treatment three and four be used as the best group owing to their similarity in gizzard weights.