Effect of Using Different Levels of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Meal on Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers

Abstract

The Present study was carried out to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on performance and caracas characteristics of broiler chicks. Two hundred day-old unsexed Ross chicks were allotted randomly to four treatments in a 4x5x10 arrangement. Four experimental broiler rations, (NRC, 1994), semi-isocaloric semi- isonitrogenous were formulated with ascending levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal, (MOLM), replacing performed total protein content of the diet percentagewise as 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5% and designated as A, B, C and D respectively with ration A serving as control. Rations were allotted randomly to the four treatments. Experimental feeding was continued for 45 days on ad libitum basis, allowing for an initial adaptation feeding period on the control diet for one week. First three days of the adaptation week utilized the pre-starter ration. Experimental diets were then fed each to its respective group till the end of the experiment feeding period.
 Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded on weekly basis. At the end of the experiment, 10 birds from each group were selected randomly and slaughtered for carcass characteristics and dressing percentage.
 Live weight, weight gain, FCR, weight after cleaning and dressing percentage all showed significant differences (p<0.05) except (p>0.05) for the daily and total voluntary feed intake and protein intake. In all carcass cuts, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found except (p<0.05) in the left side and neck.
 The present study indicated that supplementation of MOLM to broiler diets had positive effects on body weight gain, dressing percentage and carcass cuts when used up to 7.5% of the ration.