Nutrient retention, haematology and serum biochemistry of cockerels fed graded levels of cassava (Manihot esculenta) grit supplemented with moringa (<i.Moringa oleifera</i>) leaf meal

Abstract

A sixteen week trial was conducted to assess the effect of replacing cassava grit supplemented with Moringa leaf meal (MLM) for maize on the  nutrient retention, haematology and serum biochemistry of 120 “day old” Harco cockerel chickens. Four experimental cockerel starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 formulated to contain 0% cassava grit while diet 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain cassava grit at 33.3, 66.6 and 100% replacement for maize with 5% of moringa leaf meal inclusion in diets 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Chicks were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets in a completely randomized designed (CRD). Result on nutrient digestibility show that crude fibre was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatment diets with highest values of 68.21 recorded in birds fed diet 4. Ash and NFE were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatment diets with highest mean values (50.81 and 55.15) observed in birds placed on 100% CGM. Haematological indices revealed that Packed Cell Volume was significantly (P<0.05) highest 32.17% among birds fed the control diet. However, neutrophil was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatment diets with highest value 17.67% recorded in birds fed the control diet. Serological study revealed that Albumin value was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments with highest value (1.60mg/dl) recorded among birds fed 33.3% CGM based diet. Therefore, Cassava grit can replace maize up to 66.6% inclusion level with 5% appropriate supplementation with moringa leaf meal in cockerel diet for optimum nutrient utilization and blood quality.

Keywords: Cockerel, cassava grit, Moringa leaf meal, digestibility, blood indices