Some blood indices in finisher broiler chickens fed cocoa pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.) fermented with Pleurotus ostreatus or treated with enzymes as ingredients in their diets

The dietary effects of pre-treated cocoa pod husk (CPH) on some blood indices of 21-day old COBB-500 finisher broiler chicks were evaluated in a 35-day experiment with a completely randomized design. The birds were allotted to seven treatments (diets) having 0-g kg-1, 100- g kg-1, 200-g kg-1 and 300-g kg-1 of either Pleurotus ostreatus fermented CPH (PF-CPH) or enzyme (Viscoyme®L+Pectinex®5XL) supplemented CPH (E-CPH). Each treatment was replicated three times with 12 chicks per replicate. The haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), activities of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum levels of cholesterol (CH), uric acid, total protein, albumin and globulin were determined. Across dietary treatments Hb, PCV, CH, uric acid and AST activity level in blood of birds varied significantly (P < 0.05). However, there was insignificant influence (P > 0.05) of pre-treated CPH on all the other evaluated parameters among treatment groups. All blood indices measured were within acceptable or reference ranges. The study has revealed that incorporating either E-CPH or PF-CPH up to 30 per cent of broiler finisher diet had no adverse effect on the blood values of the broiler chickens. However, up to 20 per cent PF-CPH and 10 per cent E-CPH incorporation rates for broiler finisher diets, based on best results observed for growth and feed conversion, is recommende