Inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in the diet of locally bred chickens: effects on growth performance, semen and hatchability traits

Abstract

ABSTRACT The presence of essential amino acids and low anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) in Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) designates it as a good source of nutrients for poultry. This study investigated the effect of dietary MOLM on the growth performance, semen, hatchability traits and day-old chick weight of Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chickens. Two isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated by diluting basal layer and grower mash with 0 (MOLM0) and 70% (MOLM70) with MOLM. Eighty PK chickens (40 hens and 40 roosters) aged 22 weeks were used in this study. For growth performance and hatchability traits, 40 laying hens were randomly assigned to two treatments with four replicates having five laying hens per pen. Diets did not significantly affect growth performance. The MOLM70 diet resulted in increased sperm velocity (rapid), semen concentration, semen pH, motility and progressive motility than the control (MOLM0). It is concluded that the inclusion of MOLM in chicken diets did not adversely affect growth performance, but improved sperm motility, hatchability and weight of day-old chicks of PK chickens. The findings recommend that MOLM is nutritionally equipped to enhance both the reproductive and the productive performance of PK.