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This research was guided to investigate the effects of supplementation of DL-methionine (DLM) and liquid DL-methionine hydroxy analog free acid (MHA) in diets on productive performance, hematological, blood metabolites and histological parameters in broiler chickens under summer conditions in Sina. A total number of 180 one day old Hubbard broiler chicks, with initial body weight (46.9 ± 2.5 g), were divided into 6 equal treatment groups. The treatment were DL-methionine (DLM) at 0.25% level, acid liquid methionine (ALM) and methionine hydroxyl analogue Ca salt (MHA) at 0.29 and 0.30%, respectively with and without dietary L-Threonine (0.0 and 1.0 g/kg diet). Chicks were raised for 35 days in battery cages under semi – arid conditions (high ambient temperature and relative humidity) in open-side housing. The obtained results indicate: The productive performance of DLM and MHA were not significantly different. Supplementation of DLM and MHA significantly improved final body weight, body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio when compared to the control group (P<0.01). The use of DLM enhanced the plasma methionine concentration (P<0.01) and increased the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (P<0.05). While MHA elevated the plasma urea and uric acid concentration levels (P<0.05).

The poor hygienic state of our abattoirs and markets where meats are sold have posed a major threat to public health. The microbial quality of meats sold in Owerri municipal Imo State, Nigeria was investigated with the aim of determining the microbial loads of meat sold in these areas. Samples numbering 110 were collected from 11 meat samples types sourced from cow, goat, and chicken. The eleven (11) meat sample types were fresh cow muscles (FCM), fresh cow intestine (FCI), fresh cow liver (FCL), and fresh cow towel (FCT). Fresh goat muscles (FGM), fresh chicken muscle (FCM), fresh goat intestine (FGI), fresh chicken intestine (FCI), Fresh goat liver (FGL), fresh chicken liver (FCL), fresh goat towel (FGT) etc. The samples were collected with sterile containers and swab sticks. The organisms isolated were Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, Coliform species. Fresh chicken intestine has the highest total mean bacteria count of 1.1 × 107 (cfu)/ml, followed by fresh cow towel 7.0 × 106 (cfu)/ml and lastly fresh chicken liver 8.2 ×105 (cfu)/ml. The presence of all these organisms can pose a major threat to public health. This calls for regular inspection of animals, abattoir environments and regular health check of abattoirs workers and butchers.