Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
This study evaluated the comparative effects of dietary supplementation with Talinum triangulare leaf meal (TTLM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) or their combination on haematology and serum lipid profile of broiler chickens. A total of 120 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. Group A received basal diet only (control), while Groups B, C and D received the basal diet supplemented with 60 g/kg TTLM, 0.8 g/kg SC or a combination of 60 g TTLM + 0.8 g SC per kg of feed, respectively. The feeding trial lasted six weeks. Blood samples were collected at weeks 3, 4 and 5 for haematology and serum lipid profile assay. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple range test, and significance was accepted at p < 0.05. The mean packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration of all the supplemented groups (Groups B, C and D) were significantly higher than that of the unsupplemented control (Group A) at week 5. Red blood cell counts were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group C birds at week 4. Total white blood cell counts were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group D birds at weeks 3 and 4. Heterophil counts and heterophil: lymphocyte ratio were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Groups A, B and C at week 3, but lymphocyte counts were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group D at week 3. Mean serum total cholesterol level was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in group D birds at week 5, while mean serum HDL level was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in Group C birds at week 3. Serum triglyceride and VLDL levels were significantly lower in Groups B, C and D birds at week 5, while mean serum LDL level was significantly higher in Group C birds at week 3. Taken together, the findings suggest that individual supplementation with TTLM or SC as used in Groups B and C were beneficial to the birds but the combination of the two (as used in Group D) did not produce superior results.

Keywords: Supplementation; Broiler chicken diets; Talinum triangulare leaf meal; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Combination; Haematology and Serum lipid profile.

How to cite this article:
Aronu CJ, Akubueze HU and Ezema C (2026). Supplementation of broiler chicken diets with Talinum triangulare leaf meal, Saccharomyces cerevisiae or combination of both: Comparison of the effects on their haematology and serum lipid profile. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1502 – 1513.

*Correspondence: E-mail: chinwe.aronu@unn.edu.ng Phone: +2347030627496