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Performance of broiler chickens fed on <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf meal supplemented poultry feed


S Abdulsalam
MS Yahaya
MA Yakasai

Abstract

This exploratory study was conducted to investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MoLM) supplemented diets on the performance of broiler Chickens. Four different graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal were used to formulate poultry feed. Ration was formulated using soyabean, yellow maize and Moringa oleifera leaf meal as ingredient for broiler booster (20% Cruide Protein) and broiler finisher (18% Criude Protein) using Pearson Squire Method. One hundred and sixty day old unsexed broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four treatment (iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous) diets as T1 (0% Moringa oleifera leaf meal), T2 (0.5% Moringa oleifera leaf meal), T3 (0.75% Moringa oleifera leaf meal) and T4 (1.0% Moringa oleifera leaf meal) in a Completely Randomized Design. The birds were distributed into 4  replicates comprising 10 chickens per replicate and managed under dip litter system for a period of 8  weeks. Water and feed were provided at ad libitum. Feed consumption, weight gain and feed conversion  ratio were evaluated for the individual replicate of each dietary treatment. In addition, slaughter weight  and carcass weight of the birds were recorded throughout the period. Statistical analysis was done using the general linear modeling procedure of SAS. The results obtained showed that significant differences  existed in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. It was also observed that, addition of  Moringa leaf meal up to 1.0% to broiler chicks diet significantly lowered weight gain, feed efficiency and  body weight during starter period. During finisher and whole periods however, supplying broiler chick‘s  diet with 0.5% Moringa leaf meal resulted in significant increase in feed consumption, but addition of  different levels of Moringa leaf meal had no significant effects on weight gain, feed efficiency and final live  body weight. It was concluded that the use of Moringa leaf meal in the broiler diet adversely affected the  performance during starter period, but enhanced the performance during finisher and whole period. The  study also reveals that Moringa leaf meal can conveniently supplement expensive sources of protein in  broiler diet without compromising performance.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Leaf Meal, Broiler, Growth and Supplementary Feed


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