Abstract

Blood chemistry, hematology and intestinal characteristics of Cobb 500 broilers on fermented tamarind bark (FTB) supplementation were studied. Two hundred- and forty-day-old broilers were spread to four equal groups and replicated four times of 15 chicks each. Broilers in the FTB0 group served as the control and were offered diets without FTB supplementation; whereas those in the FTB0.5, FTB1.0 and FTB1.5 groups received the same diet but supplemented with FTB additive at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg feed, respectively. The FTB supplementation levels for optimal performance were assessed using a quadratic function. Higher (P < 0.05) hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), serum cholesterol, and alanine transferase (ALT) were found broilers in the FTB0.5 group than in the FTB0 group. Similarly, FTB0.5 birds recorded better (P < 0.05) ileum length and jejunum weight than FTB1.5 birds. There was quadratic (P < 0.05) effect on Hb, MCH, MCHC, cholesterol, ALT, ileum length and jejunum weight in Cobb 500 broilers. It can be inferred that 0.5 g/kg fermented tamarind bark can be used as feed additive in Cobb 500 broiler diet from one to 42 days of age for best blood and intestinal characteristics. This finding will augur well to broiler farmers in tropical countries where tamarind bark is readily in abundance.