Abstract: The effects of feeding Moringa Oleifera leaves meal (MOLM) as a nontraditional feed on performance and immune response were studied in broiler chicks raised on floor litter from 1 till 5 weeks of age. A total of 144 Cobb strain broiler chicks were distributed into 3 treatments (48 chicks/ treatment) with 4 replicates per treatment and 12 chicks per pen. Dietary MOLM levels of 0, 2, and 4% were supplemented to a basal ration (control) containing 22.4% crude protein and 3100 Kcal/kg metabolizable energy so that the three diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and met the requirements of broilers for all essential nutrients. Results indicated that at 4 weeks of age, body weight of birds fed the 2% MOLM was numerically higher than those of both the control and 4% MOLM. At 5 weeks of age, however, the body weight of birds offered the 4% dietary MOLM, was lowered (P<.05) by 3.6 and 2.4% as compared to the control and 2% MOLM, respectively. The overall means of feed conversion values of all treatments were comparable (1.9). However, at 5 week-old the 4% MOLM recorded lower FCR (2.7) than (P<.01) both control and 2% MOLM (2.3 and 2.4, respectively). Protein conversion ratio values indicated that the chicks received 2% MOLM were superior (2.36) to the control 0.0% and 4% MOLM fed groups (2.53 and 2.81%, respectively). Performance index (PI) and production number (PN) showed no differences among all treatments. Lymphoid organs weight as (%) of body weight showed that bursa % in the group received 2% MOLM recorded the highest (P<.01) weight in comparison to the control and 4% (.189% vs. .105 and .112%, respectively) in response to dietary supplementation. The percentage of abdominal fat was numerically lower in 2% MOLM fed group and coincided with a decreased (P<.01) level of ether extract % in body composition analyses. In conclusion, MOLM could be incorporated at 2% in broiler diets for improving carcass quality, immune response and protein conversion ratio.
Research Abstract
Research Department
Research Journal
4th. Mediterranean Poultry Summit of the Mediterranean Poultry Network of the WPSA. September 2-5, 2014, Beirut, Lebanon. (Abs.)
Research Member
Research Publisher
WPS
Research Rank
3
Research Vol
World’s Poultry Science Journal, Volume 70, (Supplement 1)
Research Website
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265596707_4th_Mediterranean_Poultry_Summit_Of_the_Mediterranean_Poultry_Network_of_the_WPSA_Beirut_-_Lebanon_on_September_02_-_05_2014
Research Year
2014
Research Pages
10 pages