Growth Performance, Blood Indices and Hormonal Responses of Broiler Chickens Fed Monosodium Glutamate

Effects of dietary monosodium glutamate on the performance, hormonal profiles, haematological, and se-rum biochemical indices of broilers were studied. Three hundred (300) day-old unsexed Abor – acre broil-ers were randomly allotted into six groups containing v aried levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks. Each group was replicated five times with ten birds per replicate. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) increase d at 0.75 and 1.00 g MSG/kg diet. MSG above 0.50 g/kg diet significantly (P<0.05) reduced the total weight gain. Inclusion at 1.00 and 1.25 g/kg diet sig-nificantly (P<0.05) reduced the packed cell volume, red blood cells, and haemoglobin counts. However, the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin at 1.25 g MSG/kg diet were significantly (P<0.05) elevated. The varying inclusion levels did not significantly (P>0.05) influence the differential white blood counts and blood viscosity. Albumin, total protein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly (P<0.05) lowered from an inclusion level of 0.75 g MSG/kg diet while a signifi-cant (P<0.05) increase was observed in the serum urea and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at the same inclusion rate. Inclusion of 1.00 and 1.25 g MSG/kg diet significantly (P<0.05) elevated the serum corticosterone concentration while there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in other hormonal responses at the same level of inclusion. The result indicated that the inclusion of MSG up to 0.50 g/kg could be utilized in broiler feeds to enhance palatability and performance without any deleterious effects on the birds.