Growth Performance and Hemato-Biochemical Responses of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with Varying Levels of Senna obtusifolia Leaf Meal

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of Senna obtusifolia (Sickle Senna) leaf meal (SSLM) on the growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler finisher chickens. A total of eighty (80), four-week-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with SSLM at 0.0% (T1, control), 0.5% (T2), 1.0% (T3), and 1.5% (T4). Each treatment was replicated four times, with five birds per replicate. The experiment lasted for four weeks. Results indicated that final weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control group (6700 g/bird) compared to the SSLM-supplemented groups. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was significantly poorer in the 1.0% SSLM group (2.35) compared to the control (1.57). Hematological analysis revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and packed cell volume in birds fed SSLM, coupled with a marked elevation in white blood cell count. It was concluded that the inclusion of Senna obtusifolia leaf meal beyond 0.5% in broiler finisher diets adversely affects growth performance and induces physiological stress, likely due to antinutritional factors, and is therefore not recommended.