HAEMATOLOGICAL RESPONSE AND EGG PRODUCTION OF CHICKENS FED WITH DIETS CONTAINING INSECTICIDE-TREATED MAIZE

The toxic effects of diets containing insecticide-treated maize were assessed on chickens. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were formulated to contain maize treated with 4 pre-planting insecticides at recommended doses: control (T1), 20% chlorpyrifos at 2 ml/kg (T2), 20% imidacloprid and 20% metalaxyl-M at 2 g/kg (T3), 20% thiamethoxam and 20% metalaxyl-M at 2.5/kg (T4), 33% permethrin and 15% carbendazim at 2.5 g/kg (T5). Sixty 25-week old laying chickens were randomly allotted to the diets for 14 days in a completely randomised design. Each treatment had 12 birds. White blood cell (WBC) and Red blood cell (RBC) counts were determined according to standard procedures. Packed cell volume (PCV) was determined using haemotocrit cynometer. Data were analysed using ANOVA at α0.05. The PCV for birds fed T2 (24.00%) and T4 (22.00%) were significantly (P=.05) lower than the mean value obtained for those on control diet (28.00%). The WBC counts were significantly (P=.05) higher for the birds fed with experimental diets. Egg production was similar across the treatments. Birds fed with T2 (7.86 g/dL) and T4 (7.10 g/dL) recorded lower mean values for Hb. Insecticide-treated maize raised white blood cell counts of the experimental chickens which is an important indication that it is hazardous to the systems of the chickens and hence, such should be handled with extra care.