INFLUENCE OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED MEAL ON THE PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF BROILER FINISHER CHICKENS

Abstract

The increase in world population and broiler meat demand in Nigeria necessitates addressing malnutrition concerns. Feed costs account for 70-80 % of total production expenses, posing challenges to the poultry industry. To address these difficulties, this research explored the impact on cost and performance of broiler chicken fed varying inclusion levels of moringa oleifera seed meal (MOSM). A total of one hundred and twenty (21-day-old) Cobb 500 strain broiler chicken were used for the experiment. The birds were weighed and randomly allocated into one of four treatments with 3 replicates housing 10 birds per replicate. They were fed varied amounts of MOSM (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%). The results showed that there were significant difference (P<0.05) on final body weight, weight gain, and feed intake. However, the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments. Cost total of weight gain, cost differential, revenue and gross margin were significantly different (P<0.05) across each dietary treatments. However, the cost total of feed consumed only showed significant differences among their means. Cost study showed that MOSM
incorporation reduces production costs and increases profitability. Despite prior research on moringa seed impacts, this study concludes that the inclusion of MOSM up to 10% dietary level has no marginal effect on the performance of broiler finisher and its production cost was drastically reduced.