GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS FED LYE-PROCESSED MORINGA (Moringa oleifera) SEED MEAL

Abstract

A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of lye processed Moringa seed meal (LMSM) on performance and blood indices of broiler chicken. A total of 150 one- day-old cobb breed broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five (5) dietary treatments replicated three times with ten chicks per replicate. The experimental diets were formulated with LMSM at inclusion levels of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% designated as T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Data were generated for final body weight, total feed intake, daily feed intake (DFI), total weight gain, daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio and blood indices. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The result of the performance showed significant (P<0.05) influence of LMSM on final weight gain, weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio at both phases. Birds on diet 0%, 5% and 10% recorded the highest weight gain while birds on 15% and 20% LMSM obtained the least value in the starter phase. Birds on  control diet and 5% LMSM recorded the highest feed intake while the lowest was obtained on 20% diet. The best FCR was observed in birds fed control diet, 5% and 10% LMSM diet. Finisher broiler fed control diet, 5% and 10% recorded higher final weight and weight gain. Birds fed control diet recorded the highest feed intake while birds on 15% and 20% LMSM recorded the lowest. Birds fed control diet, 5% and 10% LMSM obtained better FCR. The feed cost per gain was cheaper when fed LMSM irrespective of the inclusion level. Heamatology and serum chemistry results revealed that all measured parameters showed no significant (P>0.05) influence of LMSM treatments on the birds except packed cell volume (PVC), Hemoglobin (Hb) and White blood cell, Glucose and ALP. Broiler chickens could be fed up to 10% LMSM at starter phase and 15%LMSM of finisher phase.