Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals in variety of Chicken feeds available in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The research work aimed at investigating some heavy metals in some chicken feeds that are commonly consumed in poultry farms in Benue metropolis. The research analyzed eight (8)  metals (zinc, lead, manganese, copper,  cadmium, nickel, chromium and iron) in eight (8) samples of chicken feeds from four (4) production companies ( top feed, hybrid feed, oracle feed and vita feed), two (2) from each (i.e starter and finisher of each) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS).In all the samples analyzed, the mean concentration of the metals in the four (4) chicken feeds companies were; vita feed Zn 0.18,Pb 0.75, Cu 0.11, Cd 0.00, Ni 0.31 Cr 0.23, & Fe 3.85, top feed Zn 0.31, Pb 0.25, Cu 0.13, Cd 0.00, Ni 0.10,Cr 0.09, & Fe 2.75,oracle feed Zn 0.19,Pb 0.25,Mn 0.70,Cu 0.15, Cd ND,Ni 0.82, Cr 0.06,& Fe 1.88 and hybrid feed Zn 0.18, Pb 0.63, Mn 0.24, Cu 0.05, Cd 0.00, Ni 0.41,Cr 0.09 & Fe 0.43. This shows that the concentration of  the metals were below the WHO acceptable limit. This means that the chicken produced from these feeds are safe for human consumption.