Haematology and Serum Biochemical Constituents of Finisher Broiler Chickens Fed Diets Containing Water Soaked Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) Peel Meal at Varying Durations

A four week feeding trial was conducted using 180 5-week old Arbor acre broiler chickens to determine the effect of feeding various duration of water soaked sweet orange peels on haematology and serum biochemical indices with a view to determining the potential of soaked sweet orange peels as an alternative to maize. Six broiler finisher diets were formulated and fed to the chickens in groups of 30 birds per diet, subdivided into 3 replicates of 10 chickens each in a completely randomized design. Diet 1 (control) was maize-based, diets 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, sweet orange peels replaced maize at various duration of water soaked 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively, and incorporated at 30% inclusion. White blood cell, red blood cell and mean corpuscular volume was depressed (p<0.05) by various duration of water soaked sweet orange peels, packed cell volume did not indicate anaemic tendency among treatment and white blood cell count did not indicate infection due to treatments. Serum protein was adequate and liver and kidney function were not compromised. Health status and nutrient absorption of birds were not compromised by replacing maize with various duration of water soaked sweet orange peels in broiler chickens.