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¹ Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
² Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria - In this experiment, the effect of varying dietary levels of fermented castor oil seed meal (FCSM) and different methionine sources (DL-methionine and herbal methionine) on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Anak broiler chicks were used in the experiment lasted 56 days. The dietary experiment was laid out as a completely randomized design in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of 4 dietary levels of FCSM (0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg) and 2 methionine sources (DL-methionine and herbal methionine). The birds were weighed and randomly distributed into 8 treatments with 3 replicates of 10 birds each. During the starter phase of the experiment, haemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and eosinophil counts were higher (P<0.05) in birds fed diets supplemented with herbal methionine when compared with DL-methionine. Birds fed diets containing 100 and 150 g/kg FCSM supplemented with either DL-methionine or herbal methionine showed higher white blood cell values at the finisher phase. Dietary FCSM raised serum creatinine levels of broiler chickens at both starter and finisher phases. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of FCSM at higher levels of 100 and 150 g/kg had adverse effects on haematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Herbal methionine can successfully replace DL-methionine in the diets of broiler chickens. There is need for further research on effective processing techniques that can enhance the use of castor oil seed meal in monogastric animal rations. Keywords : Broiler, Methionine, Haematology, Castor oil meal, Serum biochemistry