Performance of broilers and layers supplemented with Moringa stenopetala leaf meal under hot humid tropical conditions

Abstract

Context: Heat stress poses a major limit to poultry production. Moringa stenopetala leaf meal (MSL) could be a promising feed additive for poultry raised under heat stress as it is rich in antioxidants. Aims: To determine the effect of (MSL) supplementation on the production and quality of broilers under heat stress conditions. Methods: In the meat growth trial, 156 one-day old Cobb 500 broilers were assigned to four groups containing three replicates of 13 chicks each. For the egg production trial, 108 Bovan Brown layers aged 20 weeks were allocated to four groups containing three replicates of 9 hens. The four groups of broiler and layer chicken were supplemented with MSL at a level of 0% (control), 1% (MSL1), 1.5% (MSL1.5) and 2% (MSL2). Relative humidity, minimum and maximum temperature were 82%, 13°C and 23°C respectively. The effect of MSL supplementation on growth performance, characteristics of digestive organs, carcass traits, egg production and egg quality was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Key results: Moringa stenopetala leaf supplementation up to a level of 2% (MSL2) did not significantly affect feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio of birds. Supplemented broilers had significantly longer large intestine (24% for MSL1, 37% for MSL1.5 and 49% for MSL2) and heavier pancreas (82% for MSL1, 67% for MSL1.5, and 57% for MSL2) compared to the control broilers. Hot and cold carcass weight, dressing yield, dressing percentage, breast meat weight, drumstick and thigh meat, wing meat weight, back weight and meat pH were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Ash content of meat of MSL2-fed birds was significantly higher than that of the control (3.51% vs. 2.74% respectively). Egg production, feed conversion ratio and interior and exterior egg quality parameters were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Intensity of yolk colour was significantly and linearly enhanced due to MSL supplementation (by ~5-8 times compared to the control). Conclusions: Supplementation of MSL at a level up to 2% improved yolk colour of Bovan Brown layers eggs with no effect on meat and egg production. Implications: Yolk colour of eggs of layers raised under heat stress can be improved by 1% of MSL supplementation with a minimum increase in the diet cost