Effect of dietary supplementation of moringa oleifera leaf meal on performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and morphometry in poultry
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Date
2022-06
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Lala lajpat rai university Hisar
Abstract
To assess the effects of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on production
performance, immune response, intestinal microflora and morphometry, a study was carried out on
broilers and laying hens. First experiment was conducted on 300 one day old Vencobb broiler chicks
randomly divided into five treatment groups with 6 replicates of 10 birds each. Second experiment was
carried out on 160 laying hens randomly divided into five treatments with 4 replicates of 8 birds each.
In both the experiments, T1 group was kept as negative control and given maize-soybean meal based
basal ration without any antibiotic, while second group (T2) was kept as control and fed basal ration
with antibiotic. In experimental groups T3, T4 and T5 basal ration was supplemented with Moringa
oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) @ 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively. In the experiment on broilers, the highest
(P<0.05) body weight gain (2057.8g), better FCR (1.76) and higher nutrients metabolizability was
observed in T5 group as compared to the control. Carcass traits viz. dressing percentage (78.06),
eviscerated % (65.74), drawn % (74.56) and weight of lymphoid organs were recorded highest in T5
group. Human health friendly fatty acids like PUFA, PUFA/SFA and CLA‘s of breast and thigh meat
increased (P<0.05) without affecting MUFA in T5 group. In laying hens, egg production parameters
viz. percent hen day egg production, egg weight and egg mass improved in T5 group followed by T4.
Egg quality parameters like albumin index, haugh unit, egg shell weight and egg shell thickness were
observed to be improved (P<0.05) in groups T4 and T5. The fatty acids profile of eggs in respect of
PUFA, PUFA/SFA and CLA‘s was improved (P<0.05) while saturated fatty acids and egg cholesterol
deceased (P<0.05) in T5 group. Levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL under different
treatments were reduced (P<0.05) on MOLM supplementation in both experiments and these were
recorded lowest (P<0.05) in T5 group. Significant increase was observed in villi height and villi
height/crypt depth in T5 group in both broilers and layers. Maximum (P<0.05) reduction in the
Coliform count and increased Lactobacilli count in T5 group was also recorded. Improved (P<0.05) Hb
level, total protein, albulin, globulin content, H/L ratio was recorded in T5 group in both experiments.
Relative mRNA expression of TLR 2 in broilers as well as layers was enhanced (P<0.05) in groups
supplemented with 2% (T4) and 3% (T5) MOLM. Cellular and humoral immunity was stimulated
(P<0.05) in T5 group followed by T4 group. Net profit was higher in MOLM supplemented groups;
however, it was maximumin in 3% MOLM supplemented group (T5). The results of this study showed
that the inclusion of M. oleifera up to 3% in both broilers and laying hens rations improved (P<0.05)
the production performance traits, meat and egg quality parameters and immune status of birds. Hence,
M. oleifera leaf meal may be considered as a potential substitute of antibiotics in poultry rations