Haematological, Serum biochemical indices and lipid profile of finisher broiler chickens fed red and white sorghum based diets, supplemented with tannase enzyme

A 28 days study was carried out to investigate the effects of red sorghum (RS) and white sorghum (WS) based diets, with or without tannase supplementation on the haematological, serum biochemical indices and lipid profile of finisher broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty (240) 4 weeks old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were allotted to eight (8) dietary treatments, which consisted of 30 birds, having 3 replicates of 10 birds each. Diets were formulated to replace maize with red and white sorghum at 4 levels (0%, 100%RS, 100%WS and 50%RS:50%WS), with or without tannase enzyme to have a 4x2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. On 28th day, blood was collected for determination of haematological, serum biochemical and lipid profile. Birds fed 100% RS diet and those fed 50RS: 50WS had the highest (P<0.05) white blood cell count (WBC), while the least WBC value was recorded for birds fed maize-based diet. Haematological indices were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the interaction between the sorghum type and tannase supplementation. Birds fed the maize-based diet without tannase had the highest (P<0.05) level of albumin (4.87g/dl), while birds fed 100%WS diet without tannase had the lowest value (3.33g/dl). The lipid profile of boiler chickens was not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by sorghum type, tannase supplementation and their interaction. It was concluded from the study that RS and WS, with or without tannase supplementation, can totally replace maize in the diet of finisher broilers without detrimental effect on the haematological, serum-biochemical indices and lipid profile.