EFFECT OF AQUEOUS Moringa olefeira (Lam) LEAF EXTRACTS ON GROWTII PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BROILER CHICKEN

A. A. Malik; O. J. Alabi; T. Z. Adama; P. E. Obaje; K. B. Ojo

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.6786

Authors

A. A. Malik Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State
O. J. Alabi Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State
T. Z. Adama Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State
P. E. Obaje Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State
K. B. Ojo Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6786

Keywords:

Moringa leaf extracts, growth performance, carcass characteristics, broiler chicken

Abstract

Two hundred and forty (240) day old Hubbard broiler chicks were used to investigate the effect of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts (AMOLE) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. The birds were stabilized for one week before they were randomly allocated into six treatments with four replicates, and each replicate containing 10 broiler chicks, making a total of 40 birds per treatment. The completely randomized experimental design (CRD) model was used. The treatments contained AMOLE 0+(positive control with antibiotic treatment), AMOLE 0- (negative control with ordinary water), AMOLE, (60 ml), AMOLE 90 (90 ml), AMOLE 120 (120 ml) and AMOLE 150 (150 ml) indicating the inclusion levels of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extracts respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days. Results show that AMOLE treatments significantly (P<0.05) influenced the final body weight, feed intake, water intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio and dressing percentage, as well as weight of the large intestine and lungs. Birds on positive control had the highest final body weight and growth rate (2392.00 g and 53.61 g respectively) while birds on 150 ml/ of AMOLE had the least (2042.00 g and 45.37 g respectively). Birds on positive control had the highest (84.70 g) feed intakke and birds on 90 ml/litre of AMOLE had the lowest (73.19 g); while the results of feed conversion ratio (FCR) indicate that birds on AMOLE90 (90 ml) and AMOLE 120 (120 ml) performed better than the positive control treatment. Birds on the AMOLE treatments had similar dressing percentages though that of positive control was highest (94.93 %); while those on AMOLE 60 and AMOLE 150 had the highest large intestine and lung weights respectively. It could, therefore, be concluded that up to 120 ml of aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract can be included in the diet of broiler chicken for improved feed conversion efficiency and as a cheap source of plant growth promoter in broiler chicken production.