The growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chicken administered aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf meal extract at the finisher phase.

Abstract

Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Hubbard broiler chickens administered aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf extract (AMOLE) at the finisher phase was investigated. Aqueous Moringa oleifera leaf meal extract were included at 0- (ordinary water), 0+ (antibiotic in water), 60, 90, 120 and 150 mL per litre of water and tagged AMOLE0-, AMOLE0+, AMOLE60, AMOLE90, AMOLE120 and AMOLE150respectively. A total of 240-day old broiler chicks was allotted to the six treatments consisting of four replicates with ten birds per replicates using completely randomized design. They were fed ad-libitum for 6 weeks and data were collected on initial weight, growth rate, feed intake, final weight, water intake, feed conversion ratio and nutrient digestibility at the finisher phase. The results showed that there were no significant (p<0.05) differences in initial weight and water intake among the treatments. However, significant (p>0.05) differences were observed in the final weight, growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Birds in the control group had the highest final weight (2392 g/bird), weight gain (49.78 g/bird) and better feed conversion ratio (1.93) than birds in the other treatments. The digestibility studies showed birds on AMOLE had better CP and EE digestibility. It was concluded that AMOLE can be included at 60 to 120 mL per litre of water to improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens