1. OLAYENI TUNJI B - (SDG 2), Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,
Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
2. BAMGBOSE ABDULRAMON A - (SDG 12), Department of Animal Production and Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,
Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
3. OJEDIRAN TAIWO K - (SDG 2), Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology,
Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
4. ALABI OLAYINKA O - (SDG 1), Department of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria.
5. AKILAPA PETER T - (SDG 8), Department of Agricultural Education, School of Vocation and Technology, Osun State College
of Education, Ila-Orangun, Nigeria.
The aim of this study was to examine the use of Nigella sativa on productive performance, egg quality and blood profile of laying birds. Three hundred ISA-Brown point-of-lay pullets were randomly distributed equally into five dietary treatments replicated six times with ten birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The diets were supplemented with Nigella sativa each at 0, 4, 5, 6 and 7g/kg diet respectively. The feeding trial lasted fourteen weeks. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the hen day production, feed conversion ration, egg weight, egg length, egg width, shell thickness, haematological parameters and serum biochemistry indices. In conclusion, 6g/kg black seed supplementation level in the diet of ISA Brown laying birds improved hen day production, egg weight, and egg width. However, 7g/kg black seed supplementation reduced feed conversion ratio, improved the pack cell volume, red blood cell count, reduced and cholesterol level. It is therefore recommended that black seed (Nigella sativa) can be added to layers diet at 6g/kg diet as feed additives to enhance production performance and egg width.
Black cumin, Chicken, Haematological parameters, Internal and external egg qualities, Serum biochemistry.