Hematology and serum biochemistry of broilers at the initial and growth stages submitted to different levels of digestible sulfur amino acids

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of digestible methionine and cystine (Met+Cys) levels on the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens during the initial and growth stages. For this, 1,800 male chicks of the Coob 500 strain were used, with 900 chicks in the initial phase (1 to 21 days old) and 900 chicks in the growth phase (22 to 42 days old), distributed in a completely randomized design of five treatments with six replicates of 30 birds. The treatments consisted of 0.545, 0.616, 0.711, 0.782, and 0.853%; and 0.514, 0.571, 0.647, 0.704, and 0.761% digestible Met+Cys for “1 to 21” and “22 to 42” days of breeding, respectively. Results showed that digestible Met+Cys levels in broiler feed altered some hematological parameters (erythrocyte, hematocrit hemoglobin, total leukocytes, heterophile: Lymphocyte) and serum biochemistry (uric acid, PST, total LDL, and TG). The digestible Met+Cys levels in the diet of broilers affected the hematological parameters and serum biochemistry, especially at higher levels. From the inclusion level 0.761 of Met+Cist in the broiler diet, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit changes begin to appear.