KIDNEY PARAMETERS OF BROILER FED DIETS CONTAINING STEM BARK OF AFRICAN LOCUST (Parkia biglobosa) BEANS AS REPLACEMENT TO ANTIBIOTICS

The research was conducted at the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, Kebbi State. To assess the kidney parameters of broilers fed diets containing stem bark of Parkia biglobosa as replacement to antibiotics. The specific objectives were to assess serum urea and creatinine level. A total of two hundred birds were used in the experiment in which they were managed under deep litter system for the period of 8 weeks. The birds were divided into 4 dietary treatments with 50 birds per each treatment and each treatment was replicated 5 times containing with 10 birds per replicate, in a completely randomized design (CRD). T1 contains 200g antibiotic powder, Stem bark powder of Parkia biglobosa was incorporated into the other treatments as follows: T2 (100g/100kg), T3 (200g/100kg), T4 (300g/100kg). At the end of the experiment, the result obtained from this study indicates that there were no significant differences (P>0.05) for all the parameters measured. But numerically variations were observed. The highest numerical value recorded for urea was seen in T1 (7.00nng/dl), followed by T4 (6.20mg/dl) and T3 (5.0 7mg/dl). The lowest also the best urea value was observed in T2 (3.20mg/dl). The lowest creatinine content of the birds was observed in T2 (0.8 7mg/dl) followed by T4 (l.03mg/dl), T4 (1.13) and T3 (1.20mg/dl). Conclusively, based on the findings of this study stem bark powder of Parkia biglobosa had no adverse effect on the kidney Parameters level of broilers. It can be recommended that stem bark powder of Parkia biglobosa can be incorporated into broilers diets. It is also recommended that other parameters such as heamatogical and carcass analysis should be carried out on broilers fed Parkia biglobosa stem bark.