Abstrakt: |
Choline is an essential micronutrient involved in several metabolic processes that are crucial to animal health. This study investigated the impact of dietary supplementation of choline on blood biochemistry indices and lipid profile of broiler chickens (Cobb 500). One hundred and forty-four day-old, unsexed broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with four replications of 12 chicks each in a completely randomized design. Three levels of choline (0 ppm/100 kg feed, 1200 ppm/100 kg feed, 1400 ppm/100 kg feed) were supplemented in the chicks' feed at the starter phase (0–21 days), while at the finisher phase (21–49 days), three levels of choline (0 ppm/100 kg feed, 800 ppm/100 kg feed, 1000 ppm/100 kg feed) were also supplemented in the chicken's feed. Feed and fresh clean water were provided ad libitum throughout the experimental period and were vaccinated against Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease. Blood samples were randomly collected on the 21st and 49th day of the experiment for haematological (packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), RBC, WBC), serum biochemistry (total protein, creatinine, ALT, ALP) and serum lipid profile (HDL, LDL, VLDL, cholesterol). It was revealed that different levels of choline had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the body changes of broiler chickens at starter and finisher phases. The haematological indices of broiler chickens at the starter phase showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction in PCV and Hb concentration across the treatments while those fed with the control diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) value when compared with other treatments. At the finisher phase, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in total protein, globulin, creatinine, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and lipid profile of the broiler chickens. Also, a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was observed with increasing level of choline in the diets. Choline supplementation in the diets of broiler chickens at 1200 ppm/100 kg of feed and 800 ppm/100 kg of feed improved the health status of broiler chickens at starter and finisher phases, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |