Growth Performance and Hemato-Biochemical Responses of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Supplemented with Varying Levels of <i>Senna obtusifolia</i> 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.