International Journal of Veterinary Science www.ijvets.com
P-ISSN: 2304-3075
E-ISSN: 2305-4360
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effect of Molasses Supplementation on Live Weight Gain, Haematologic Parameters and Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility of Broiler Chickens in the Hot-dry Season B Habibu*1, NM Ikira2, HU Buhari2, T Aluwong1, MU Kawu1, LS Yaqub1, M Tauheed3 and HI Isa3 1
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 3 Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 2
ART I CL E I NFO
AB S T RA CT
Received: Revised: Accepted:
The use of haematology as an index of health status is well known, just like the use of erythrocyte osmotic fragility and heterophil-lymphocyte ratio (H:L) as biomarker of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of molasses supplementation through drinking water on live weight gain, haematologic parameters and erythrocyte osmotic fragility in 7-week-old broiler chickens during the heat stress of the hot-dry season. Thirty unsexed broiler chickens of Arbor acres strain were used for this study. At 4-week-old, the birds were randomly allotted to three groups of 10 birds each. Group I chickens served as control and were given only drinking water. Group II chickens were given 5 mL molasses and group III chickens 7 mL molasses per litre of drinking water. The percentage weight gain was higher (P
