EFFECT OF FEEDING VARYING LEVELS OF GROUNDNUT HAULMS ON BODY WEIGHT AND HAEMATO- BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE IN BROILER BIRDS N.K. Ribadiya * , H.H. Savsani 1 , S.S. Patil 1 , R.J. Padodara 2 , A.R. Bhadaniya 3 and D.T. Fefar 3 * Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, 1 Department of Animal Nutrition, 2 Department of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, 3 Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Science & AH Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh-362001, Gujarat *E-mail: nilayribadiya@gmail.com (*Corresponding Author) Abstract: The present study was undertaken to evaluate ground nut haulms as alternate feed resource by its incorporation in the diets of broiler birds. A total 240 one-day-old Cobb-400 broiler chicks were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments each with three replicates (n = 60). Experimental Birds in group T1 were fed with conventional concentrate mixture while birds in T2, T3, T4 were fed with feed containing 2%, 4% and 6% of ground nut haulms (GNH) replacing maize and soya bean on iso-nitrogenous basis. Feed intake increases significantly (P > 0.05) with increasing level of GNH in the diets of experimental birds. Highest feed intake was recorded in T4 (6% GNH) followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). Birds fed groundnut haulms gained significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight than birds fed the control diet. Birds in T4 (6% GNH) gained highest body weight followed by T3 (4% GNH) than T2 (2% GNH) and T1 (control). However, feed conversion ratio remained non-significant for all treatment groups. Regarding blood biochemical parameters, values of TEC and TLC showed non-significant difference. However values of Hb, PCV, AST and ALT were significant (P<0.05) among experimental groups but they were in normal range suggesting that groundnut haulms do not have any adverse effect on overall health and liver function in groundnut haulms fed birds. Based on results of the study it is concluded that supplementation of GNH can successfully replace costly ingredients like maize and soy bean meal in the diets of broiler birds up to the level of 6 % without any harmful effects on feed intake, growth and feed conversion ratio and Haemato biochemical profile. Keywords: body weight, feed intake, groundnut haulms, Haemato-biochemical profile. Introduction Over a period of time due to the combined efforts of government, private players and farmers, poultry industry has become a full-fledged organized sector and now stands as one of the fastest growing industries in India. Poultry occupies an important place in Indian economy by contributing more than Rs. 11,000 crores to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It also ranks 3 rd and 5 th with respect to production of egg and meat in world (BAHS, 2012). However, a major constraint to poultry production in India is the very high cost of International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 6, No 1, 2017, 332 – 338 2277-663X (P) Received Dec 29, 2016 * Published Feb 2, 2017 * www.ijset.net