Abstract:
The high cost of feed materials and feed additives in developing nations has elicited interest in the search for sustainable alternatives. Moringa (Moringa oleifera), one of such sustainable alternatives is a tropical plant that has its usefulness investigated in this study. A 42-day study was designed to determine the response of Ross 308 broilers to dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation. The Moringa oleifera leaves used for the study were analysed for proximate, mineral and composition as well as phytochemical contents before being incorporated in the diet. Day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (n = 500) were allotted to five treatments in completely randomized design with each treatment replicated five times and each replicate having 20 chicks. The birds were subjected to diets supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg feed at both starter and finisher stage, respectively and designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5. Moringa oleifera leaf meal level that supported optimum production and physiological variables was modelled using the quadratic function. At day 42, three birds per replicate were slaughtered to evaluate carcass and organ yields. Result of the proximate composition revealed that MOLM is rich in protein (32.37%) and neutral detergent fibre (52.16%). Mineral assay indicated that MOLM was high in calcium, sodium, potassium, sulphur and iron. Daily feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were the same among the treatments with the exception of starter broilers on diet T1 that had higher ADG (p<0.05) than those on the other diets. Final live weight (FLW), mortality and gizzard weight were influenced (p<0.05) by Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation. Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had no effect on parameters measured. Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation at 39.98 and 35.80 g/kg feed supported optimum FLW and ADG at starter phase and 46.88 g/kg feed MOLM supported optimum FLW at finisher phase. In conclusion, Moringa oleifera leaf meal is a good source of nutrients and suitable for production of enhanced cut parts in broiler chickens. Birds on 50 and 75 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed had higher (p<0.05) packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and glucose than those on the other 3 treatment diets. The white blood cell (WBC) counts for birds on 50 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed were higher (p<0.05) than those on 100 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed but similar (p>0.05) to those on 0, 25 and 75 g MOLM/kg feed. Blood platelet count maintained the trend 75 g > 0 g > 50 g > 100 g > 25 g MOLM/kg feed with birds on 75 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed being statistically higher (p<0.05) than those on 25, 50 and 100 g MOLM/kg feed. Dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had no significant effect (p>0.05) on haemoglobin (Hb), total serum protein (TSP), albumin, cholesterol and uric acid. Triglyceride (TG) level of birds on 25, 75 and 100 g Moringa oleifera leaf meal/kg feed decreased significantly compared to those on 0 and 50 g MOLM/kg feed. Daily Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the differential WBC count. Daily Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation with 26.99 g/kg feed and 31.95 g/kg feed respectively supported optimum PCV (38.62%) and glucose (245.42 mg/dl) in Ross 308 broilers. It is, therefore summarized that optimizing MOLM supplementation level in the ration of Ross 308 broilers could assist in improving their productivity.
