Main morphological indicators of blood by replacing certain protein components in the diet of broiler chickens

Abstract

Including rapeseed in broiler diets increases protein levels without increasing feed volume. However, anti-nutritional components of rapeseed can affect blood morphological parameters: glucosinolates suppress thyroid function, indirectly affecting erythropoiesis, while phytic acid impairs the absorption of iron and copper, which are necessary for hemoglobin synthesis. Therefore, this analysis is necessary to assess the physiological state of birds when adding rapeseed at various doses. The aim of this study was to examine blood morphological parameters after replacing specific protein components in the broiler chicken diet. A 10 % feed replacement did not significantly alter blood morphological composition; basophil counts decreased by 20,7 %, which may positively impact the immune status of broiler chickens. Replacing 25 % and 50 % of the feed weight with rapeseed in the diet resulted in a 41,2 % and 32,3 % reduction in white blood cell counts, respectively. However, these values are within reference limits and therefore cannot be considered a symptom of abnormalities. Eosinophil counts increased in experimental groups 3 and 4 by 48,1 % and 36,4 %, respectively, which remains within physiological norms and can only indirectly indicate an inflammatory process in the bird’s body. To develop practical recommendations for feeding broiler chickens with rapeseed supplements at various dosages, a comprehensive assessment of morphological parameters, blood biochemistry, and chyme analysis is necessary.