Comparative Economics of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal Feeding in Rhode Island Red Laying Chicken

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg production and economics in Rhode Island Red (RIR) layers. One hundred and eighty (180) 24-week-old, Rhode Island Red layer birds were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 3 replicates of 15 birds in each replicate. T1 (Control: Basal diet), T2 (1% MOLM in basal diet), T3 (3% MOLM in basal diet), and T4 (5% MOLM in basal diet) were the treatments. The findings showed that hens supplemented with MOLM had a lower average daily feed intake per bird (g/day) (P<0.05). The FCR did not differ statistically across the groups. In comparison to T1, the average hen day egg production (HDEP) and hen house egg production (HHEP) % of the experiment were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T3 and T4 groups. The current study discovered that whereas the total feed cost per bird was much lower in the MOLM-fed groups, the addition of MOLM had no effect on the overall feed intake per bird. Additionally, MOLM fed groups that laid more eggs have greater net returns on feed costs and higher receipts from egg sales. Without having a negative impact, feeding birds Moringa oleifera leaf meal increased their productivity and cost-effectiveness.