Effects of Strain and Skip-A-Day Feed Restriction on Haematological Parameters of Broiler Chickens at Finisher Stage

Feed restriction is a management tool designed to reduce the amount of feed consumed by birds to produce more meat without jeopardizing their health condition. The present study was therefore, undertaken to investigate the effects of strain and feed restriction on haematological parameters of broiler chickens. The strains of broilers reared are Arbor Acre, Hubbard and Marshall. The four treatments and three replicates per treatment applied are: A- full feeding (control), B-5th week feed restricted, C- 6th week feed restricted and D- 7th week feed restricted groups. After each feed restriction regime the birds were restored to full feeding until the termination of the experiment on the 56th day. At the end of the experiment on the 56th day, two birds from each replicate were randomly selected for blood collection. Analyzed results showed that there was no significant (p>0.05) effect of strain on all the haematological parameters at 8th week except for red blood cell. With respect to red blood cell, Hubbard birds showed superiority to other two strains which recorded similar (p>0.05) mean values. All feeding trials employed had positive impact on the birds' hematological parameters regardless of strain. Therefore, any of the feed restriction regime could be employed without compromising the health of the birds.