Growth performance, blood profile and nutrients digestibility of broiler chickens fed Enterolobium cyclocarpum seed based diets with or without supplemental exogenous enzyme

A 63-day study using 150, seven day old broiler chicks was conducted to evaluate the effect of Enterolobium cyclocarpum seed meal (ECSM) based diets on growth performance, blood profile and nutrient digestibility in six dietary treatments containing 0, 5 and 10% ECSM with or without enzyme supplementation using 2×3 factorial layout in a completely randomized design. Results showed that the main and interaction effects of enzyme supplementation and inclusion level of ECSM did not significantly (p>0.05) influence the growth parameters studied. Enzyme supplementation significantly (p<0.05) increased glucose concentration. Birds fed 5% ECSM based diet recorded the highest globulin value (1.96g/dL). The albumin, globulin and glucose concentration significantly influenced by the interaction effect of enzyme supplementation and ECSM inclusion levels. Birds fed 5% ECSM based diet supplemented with enzymes recorded the highest globulin value (2.02g/dL). Birds fed ECSM based diet supplemented with enzyme had lower (62.22%) lymphocytes value. Interactive effect of ECSM and enzyme supplementation had no influence (p>0.05) on the haematological indices of broiler chicken except the white blood cell and lymphocytes values. The white blood cell and lymphocytes values increased across the dietary treatments as the ECSM supplemented with or without enzyme increased. Main and interactive effects of enzyme supplementation and ECSM inclusion levels significantly (p<0.05) affected the nutrient digestibility. Birds fed diet supplemented with enzyme and those fed 5% ECSM based diet had better nutrient digestibility values. The study concluded that ECSM could be used up to 5% supplemented with enzymes in broiler chickens’ diet without any adverse effect on broiler’s performance. Keywords: Broiler, Serum biochemistry, haematological indices, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Nutrient digestibility, Enzyme