“AN INVESTIGATION ON FEEDING LEAF MEAL TO BROILER STARTER CHICKEN IN THE TROPICS”;
AN IVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF FEEDING Moringa oleifera LEAF MEAL AS A POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF SOYABEAN MEAL IN THE DIETS OF BROILER STARTER CHICKEN IN THE TROPICS
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University Abraka
Obakanurhe, Oghenebrorhie, OBADO marley chukuma, Okpara, Oghenesurvwe and Irabor Arnold Ebuka
Obakaoghenebrorhie@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the growth performance of broiler starters were investigated using 120 day-old Cobb broiler chicks. The birds were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments containing MOLM at 0, 6, 8, and 10% (treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4) inclusion levels respectively, in a complete randomized design experiment. The effect of the dietary treatments on the performance of the starter broilers was determined. Results showed that treatment effect on average final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significant (P<0.05). Birds fed MOLM gained significantly (P < 0.05) higher weight and superior feed conversion ratio than birds fed the control diet However, birds fed T2 (6%) diet recorded significantly (P < 0.05) the highest body weight gain. Results showed that a MOLM could be included at 10% dietary level without any deleterious effect on performance characteristics of broiler starters.
Key Words: Moringa oleifera, Growth, Performance, feed conversion ratio and Deleterious.
Introduction
The incorporation of protein from leaf sources in diets for broilers is fast gaining grounds because of its availability, abundance and relatively reduced cost (Onyimonyi and Onu, 2009). According to (Opara, 1996) leaf meal do not only serve as protein sources but also provide some necessary vitamins, minerals and also oxycarotenoids which causes yellow colour of broiler skin, shank and egg yolk . Chickens constitute one of the most commonly eaten animal species in developed countries but this isn’t the case in developing countries mostly due to the cost which is beyond the reach of the common man. The WHO recommended animal protein intake of 60gm per day is hardly met. Feed costs amount to a considerable proportion of production cost in any intensive livestock production system (Ekenyem, 2001). It has been reported that, feed cost represents up to 60-80% of the total cost of broiler production (Teguia and Beynen, 2005). Soyabean meal, a conventional feed resource, has been used as the source of animal protein in diets of poultry in many developing countries including Nigeria due to unavailability of cheaper alternative protein sources. With the present trend of rising prices of feedstuffs, considerable attention has been placed on the search for non-conventional feedstuffs (Esmail, 2002).
However, the prices of these protein sources have been escalating continuously in recent times, availability is often erratic. The problem has been worsened due to the increasing competition between humans and livestock for these protein ingredients as food. According to Odunsi (2003) the rapid growth of human and livestock population, which is creating increasing need for food and feed in the less developed countries, demand that alternative feed resources must be identified and evaluated. Moringa oleifera belongs to the single genus monogeneric family Moringaceae and is well distributed in Africa and Asia. Apart from being a good source of vitamins and amino acids, it has medicinal uses (Makkar and Becker 1999; Francis et al., 2005). Moringa oleifera, otherwise regarded as a „miracle tree‟ is reputed to have many medicinal properties (Ghasi et al 2000 and Matthew et al 2001), possesses hypocholesterolemic properties (Olugbemi et al., 2010a) and could substitute conventional feedstuffs as it possesses useful characteristics (Sarwart et al., 2002). Its leaves and green pods are rich in carotene and ascorbic acid with good profile of amino acids (Makkar and Becker 1996). Kakenji et al. (2003) observed that Moringa oleifera leaf meal contains 86% DM, 29.7% CP, 22.5% CF, 4.38% EE, 27.9% calcium, 0.26% phosphorus and negligible amount of tannin (1.23g/kg). In addition, Oduro et al. (2008) reported that Moringa oleifera leaves contained crude protein 27.51%, crude fibre 19.25%, crude fat 2.23%, ash 7.13%, moisture 76.53%, carbohydrates 43.88%, and caloric value 1296.00 kJ/g (305.62 cal/g).Calcium and Iron content in mg/100 g (DM) were 20.09and 28.29, respectively. Foidl and Paull (2008) reported that the protein content of leaves is high (20–35% on a dry weight basis) and most important is that the protein is of high quality having significant quantities of all the essential amino acids. Murro et al. (2003) reported that the leaves are highly nutritious containing significant quantities of Vitamins A, B and C, Ca, Fe, P and protein. However, despite the high nutrient content of Moringa oleifera leaf meal, there are few reports in the literature on feeding trials with broilers. This tree according to Fahey et al. (2001) has in recent times been advocated as an outstanding indigenous source of highly digestible protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C, and carotenoids suitable for utilization in many of the so-called “developing” regions of the world where under nourishment is a major concern. Therefore the objectives of the present study were to determine the optimum level of MOLM inclusion in broiler diets, proximate analysis and its effect on performance characteristics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment was carried out at the Poultry Research Unit of the Department of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
Source and Processing of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Meal
The Moringa oleifera leaf meal used for this study was collected from Delta State University, Asaba Delta State, Nigeria. The harvested leaves were air dried under a shed until they were crispy to touch, while retaining their greenish colouration. The dried leaves were then milled using a hammer mill to produce Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) suitable for incorporation into broiler starter diets.
Experimental Diets
Four experimental starter diets were formulated such that diet T1 which served as the control contained O% MOLM, while diets 2, 3, and 4 contained 6%, 8% and 10% MOLM and designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 diets respectively. Ingredient and nutrient composition (AOAC, 1990) of these rations are presented in Table 1.
Experimental Birds and Management
One hundred and twenty day old Cobb Breed of broiler chicks was used for the experiment. The birds on arrival were weighed and randomly allocated into their respective pens into 4 treatments of 3 replicates with 10 birds per treatment and their weight per replicates was taken and brooded for 2 weeks. Each dietary treatment of broiler starter was fed to the treatment groups for 4 weeks for starter.
The experimental diets and clean drinking water were supplied to the birds ad libitum throughout the study period. Prior to the commencement of the experiment, the birds were weighed at the beginning of the study to obtain their initial body weights and thereafter they were individually weighed to the nearest gram at weekly intervals during the experimental period. Vaccination and other routine poultry management practices were carried out. Performance characteristics were recorded weekly.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis of data (initial weight, final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion efficiency.) was all subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat (Release 4.24) statistical package (Genstat, 2005). Duncan’s multiple range tests was used for the mean separation.
Results and discussion
Results from the starter phase indicates that, the mean initial body weight, the mean final weight, the mean weight gain per bird, mean feed intake, average daily weight gain/bird and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among dietary treatments.
The final body weight in T2 shows highest value of 1.06 compared to the control and the other test diets. This result reflected on the weight gain and the feed intake of 1.03 and 1.69.
However, the final weight in the starter phase indicate that T2 (6%MOLM) and T3 (8%MOLM) can still be compared to the T1 (0%MOLM). This indicate that broiler chick can be fed all levels of MOLM inclusion from 6% – 10% and will not have any adverse effect on the final weight.
It was also closely observed that T2 and T3 consumed much feed compared to the control T1 and test diet T4. Thus the anti-nutritional factor in the MOLM does not affect their consumption rate of the birds. The mean final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, average daily weight gain at the end of the finisher phase were not significantly different.
Results from this study is also similar to (Onu and Aniebo 2011) also observed that Birds fed MOLM during the starter phase gained significantly (P < 0.05) higher weight and superior feed conversion ratio than birds fed the control diet However, birds fed T2 (2.5%) and T3 (2.5%) diets recorded significantly (P < 0.05) the highest body weight gain.
T2 (6%MOLM) shows higher value compared to the control diet T1 and the other test diet which depreciate in their mean value as the inclusion levels of MOLM increases. Since there is no significant difference among the mean of the final body weight, it indicate that there were no adverse effect of MOLM on the final body weight.
Results obtain in weight gain indicates that T3 recorded the highest mean value compared to the control diet and the treatment 2 and 4 respectively. But the initial weight recorded in the finisher phase shows that T2 has the highest value which indicates that as the bird grows older they tend to consume more (MOLM) dietary even more than the control diet which largely reflected on their weight gain. These discrepancies observed in the weight gain of chicks maintained on diets containing MSLM and other leaf meal supplements might be explained by the presence of high pepsin soluble nitrogen (82-91%), low acid detergent insoluble protein (1-2%) and low anti-nutritional factors in Moringa leaf meal compared to the other leaf meals (Makkar and Becker, 1997). This suggests that the protein in Moringa leaf is readily available to most animals and more suitable to monogastric animals (Kakengi et al., 2003). Moreover, the depressed appetite in chicks fed the control diet could probably be due to the amino acid imbalance in maize, wheat bran and noug cake which demands supplementation of cereal based diets with animal protein (Agbede and Aletor, 1997). Apart from this, methionine is in particular the primary limiting sulfur containing amino acid in soybean meal based poultry diets (NRC, 1994; Cavins et al., 1972).
However, the feed intake shows that the dietary experimental diets consume more of the feeds compare to the control diet. As the inclusion level increases (MOLM) their feed intake also reduces marginally, this might be due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors present in the leaf meal. Similar issue was also observed in the starter phase. Kakengi et al. (2007) observed increased feed intake in layer hens fed diets containing 10 and 20% levels of M. olifera leaf meal in which inclusion rates were about twofold higher than those of the present study. However, dietary M. olifera leaf meal levels up to 5% did not show any significant effect on feed intake (Kakengi et al., 2007). Iheukwumere et al. (2008) reported similar intake values for groups on 5% dietary levels of Cassava leaf meal. Consistent with the present study, Ekenyem and Madubuike (2006) reported improved feed intake for broilers fed diets The Daily FeedIntake (DFI) significantly decreased with the Moringa leaves meal inclusion, particularly in MO16 and MO24 treatments. This study finding is in line with those of Ravindran et al. (1986) and Iheukwumere et al. (2008) with 10% inclusion of cassava (Manihot esculenta). The DFI regulation being primarily energetic in poultry, it appears to be normal that the Moringa leaves based diets more energetic should be less consumed than the control diet. But according to some authors (Ash and Petaia, 1992; Omekam, 1994; Foidl et al., 2001), chickens did not eat voluntarily fresh or dried legumes leaves and could often showed a decline in their performances, particularly DFI due to the lack of appetite when fed diet containing high level of leaves. This is in agreement with the findings of Kakengi et al. (2007) and Olugbemi et al. (2010a) or Ravindran et al. (1983) in which the DFI had significantly increased respectively with the Moringa or cassava leaves meal inclusion levels in the diets.
The differences observed in the means of feed intake in the control and the test diet indicates that even with the anti-nutritional factor observed in the test diet can still be compared to control diet. Thus making it not be significantly different from the test dietary treatments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the results of this study showed that Moringa oleifera leaves, contained appreciable amount of crude protein, dietary fibre, fatty acids and minerals, which are nutritional requirements of broiler chickens. From these result, it is concluded that starter broilers could tolerate up to 10% Moringa oleifera leaf meal inclusion in their diets without adverse effects on their performance characteristics.
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Table 1.0: Percentage Composition of Experimental Broiler Starter Diets
T1 T2 T3 T4
Feed ingriendent 0% 6% 8% 10%
MOLM —- 6.00 8% 10%
Maize 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00
Soyabean Meal 18.00 15.50 15.00 14.50
Groundnut Cake 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.00
Wheat Offal 8.50 5.00 3.50 2.00
Fish Meal 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
Bone Meal 2.50 2.50 2.50 2.50
Oyster Shell 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Salt 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Premix 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Methionine 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Lysine 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25
Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Cal C.P 23.08 23.08 23.17 23.25
ME/ (Kcal/kg) 2825.03 2845.42 2872.86 2901.40
To provide the following per kg of diet vitamin A – 15,000.00,lu Vitamin D3 – 3, 000,000lu, Vitamin E- 30,000,lu Vitamin K- 3,000mg Vitamin B1 3000,mg Vitamin B2 6000mg, Vitamin B6 5,000mg, Vitamin B 40mg, Biotin 200mg, Niacah-40,000mg, Pantothenic 15,000mg,Folic acid 2,000mg, choline 300,000mg,Iron60,000mg, manganese 80,000mg, copper 25,000mg, Zinc 80,000mg cobalt 150mg, iodine 500mg, selenium 310mg, Antioxidant 20,000m
Table 2.0: Proximate Compositions of Moringa oleifera
Parameters Percentage (%)
Dry Matter 92.53
Crude protein (CP) 27.14
Ether Extract (EE) 2.33
Crude Fibre (CF) 17.45
Ash 4.23
Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) 41.38
Table 3.0: Proximate Analysis Composition of the Experimental Broiler Starter Diets
Parameters T1 T2 T3 T4
0% 6% 8% 10%
Dry Matter 88.86 88.86 88.90 88.93
Crude Protein 23.28 23.32 23.36 23.38
Crude Fibre 4.34 4.31 4.28 4.26
Ether Extracts 8.15 7.78 7.82 7.87
Ash 8.45 8.52 8.58 8.62
NFE 44.46 44.41 44.36 44.34
ME/Kcal 3206.36 3175.80 3178.78 3182.90
Table 4.0: Performance Characteristics of Broilers Fed the Starter Diets
Parameters T1 T2 T3 T4
0% 6% 8% 10% SEM SIG
IW/bird/ (kg) 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.00 NS
FW/bird/(kg) 0.96 1.06 0.94 0.79 0.07 NS
WG/bird/(kg) 0.93 1.03 0.91 0.76 0.07 NS
Feed intake/bird/(kg) 1.61 1.69 1.62 1.50 0.06 NS
A/DWTG/bird/(kg) 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.00 NS
FCR 1.42 1.65 1.79 1.85 0.19 NS
KEY: IW= initial weight, FW= final weight, WG=weight gain , A/DWTG=average daily weight gain
FI=feed intake, FCR= feed conversion ratio.