Effect of Graded Levels of Moringa Leaf Meal on the Body Weight Gain, Feed Conversion Ratio, Immune Competence Traits and Meat Composition of Coloured Chicken

Abstract

One hundred and eighty, day old straight run coloured chicken (Chabro) were randomly distributed into six dietary treatments: T1-basal diet (broiler starter diet till 4 weeks, broiler finisher diet till eight weeks), T2-T1+1% Moringa leaf meal (MLM), T3- T1+2% MLM, T4- T1+3% MLM, T5- T1+4% MLM, T6-T1+5% MLM, having three replicates each with ten coloured chicken. During 4-8 weeks of age, T4 birds had significantly higher (P<0.05) phase wise body weight gain and better FCR than control. Total immunoglobulin response of T2 was significantly higher (P<0.01) than T1, T3 and T4. Percent protein of breast and thigh meat after 8 weeks of age was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 than T1 and T2. Thus, dietary supplementation of 3% MLM resulted in significantly higher body weight gain and better FCR during 4-8 weeks. 2% MLM resulted in increase in percent crude protein of breast and thigh meat cuts.