Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing the diet with different levels of Eucalyptus globulus leaves on hematological traits of Japanese quails. A total number of one hundred and twenty-eight (128) quails, three weeks old, were used in this experiment. The birds were placed on four treatment groups consisted of thirty-two (32) quails each. Treatment groups were: Control diet (C) (free from eucalyptus), R1: Control diet + 4g/day eucalyptus, R2: Control diet + 8g/day eucalyptus; R3: Control diet + 12g/day eucalyptus. The birds were kept for four weeks. At the end of the trial, blood samples were obtained from all quails from the brachial vein by venipuncture. Hematological traits measured were red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hgb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean cell volume (MCV), white blood cells count (WBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), percent lymphocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), thrombocyte count, heterophils/lymphocytes (H/L) ratio, percent heterophils, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils. Results revealed that supplementing the diet of quails with different levels of eucalyptus (R1, R2 and R3) caused significant increased (P<0.05) in Hgb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, thrombocytes, and H/L ratio as compared to group C, while WBC and lymphocytes significantly decreased (P<0.05) in control group. But, there were no significant difference (P>0.05) among all experimental groups as regards heterophils, monocytes, and basophils. In conclusion, supplementing ration of quails with Eucalyptus globulus leaves led to significant improvement in most of the blood traits.
Keywords: Diet, Eucalyptus globulus, hematological traits, Japanese quails.
Title: The Effects of Blue Gum (Eucalyptus Globulus.) Leaves as Feed Additive on Hematological Traits of Japanese quail
Author: Alhassan U. Bello
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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