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Performance characteristics of broilers fed graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal

Ayo-Ajasa¹*, O.Y., Abiona², J.A., Fafiolu³, A.O., Egbeyale¹, L.T., Njoku¹, C.P., Omotayo¹, I.G., Odeyemi¹, A.Y. and Abel⁴, F.A.S.

¹Department of Animal Production and Health,
²Department of Animal Physiology,
³Department of Animal Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria,
⁴Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, Nigeria

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2016 19(1): 23-31

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Cost of conventional protein sources is on the increase recently; hence, there is the need for cheaper alternative sources that will not compromise the performance characteristics of broiler birds taking into consideration the cost of production. Moringa leaf meal has been reported to increase the performance of broiler birds due to its rich protein content. Two hundred day-old broiler chicks were used to assess the effects of partial replacement of soya bean meal with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal on broiler chickens in an 8-wk feeding trial. The birds were randomly assigned in equal numbers into five dietary treatments: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 % Moringa leaf meal (MOLM). Each treatment was replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate. The results showed that final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by inclusion levels of MOLM and the birds fed with 20% MOLM inclusion level had the highest values of 2490.00 g, 2445.00 g, 43.66 g, 5212.92 g, 93.09 g and 2.13, respectively. The dressed weight, eviscerated weight and dressing percentage of carcass yield were also significantly (p<0.05) enhanced with increase in inclusion levels of MOLM with the birds fed 20% MOLM inclusion level had the highest values of 2267.50 g, 1963.75 g and 89.49%, respectively. The incorporation of MOLM in the diets did not have any significant (p>0.05) effect on primal cut parts and relative organ weight. From the results of this study, replacement of soybean meal with MOLM up to 20% did not have any adverse effect on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chickens.