TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Dietary Levels of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Seed Meal on Growth, Haematological and
Biochemical Profiles of Broiler Finisher Chicken
AU - Anyanwu, N.J. AU - Odoemelam, V.U. AU - Ekezie, U.E. AU - Nwaiwu, V.O. AU - Etela, I. AU - Ekpe, I.I. AU - Kalio, G.A. 
JO  - Research Journal of Animal Sciences
VL  - 14
IS  - 2
SP  - 26
EP  - 32
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1993-5269
DO  - rjnasci.2020.26.32
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjnasci.2020.26.32
KW  - haematological characteristics
KW  -broilers finisher chicken
KW  -Moringa oleifera
KW  -growth
KW  -significantly
AB  - Consumption of saturated and trans fats can
elevate blood cholesterol levels thereby increasing the risk
of heart disease. Excessive fatty deposit associated with
broiler meat due to ad libidum feeding has been reported
to affect the quality of the processed chicken. There has
been reports that different herbs and natural products are
effective in lowering serum cholesterol levels in animals
thereby producing leaner and healthier broiler meat. In
view of recent concerns on effects of bad lipids on human
health and claims that the supplementation of broiler diets
with <i>Moringa oleifera</i> seed meal might positively affect
the carcass quality, this study was initiated. This trial
evaluated the effects of feeding undecorticated <i>Moringa oleifera</i> seed meal on growth performance,
haematological and biochemical values of broilers finisher
birds. The air dried seeds were milled in a hammer mill to
produce <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Seed Meal (MOSM). Four
broiler diets were formulated to contain the MOSM at 0,
8, 12 and 16%, respectively and were used to feed 96
broiler finisher birds. The birds were divided into 4
groups and randomly assigned to the 4 treatment diet with
to as control diet and T<sub>1</sub>, T<sub>2</sub>, T<sub>3</sub> as the Moringa treatment
diet in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3
replicates per treatment. Water and feed were provided ad
libitum. At the end ofn the experiment, six birds per
treatment were randomly selected for collection of blood
samples for haematological analysis. Blood samples were
collected and dispensed into tubes containing Ethylene
Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) as anticoagulant and
another set into tubes without coagulant for serum
analysis. At the end of the 7 week experimental period,
results indicated that Average Final Body Weight
(AFBW) and Average Daily Weight Gain (ADWG)
decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increased inclusion
of <i><i>Moringa oleifera</i></i> Seed Meal (MOSM), although, T<sub>2</sub>
showed least value in ADWG. The results showed that
haematological indices such as packed cell volume, red
blood cells, mean cell volume, mean cell
haemoglobin, haemoglobin were not significantly
(p>0.05) influenced by varied levels of MOSM and were
within the normal range (9.06-31-0&times;106/g) recommended
for broiler birds except for WBC, lymphocyte,
neutrophiles and platelets which were higher than the
average values. The results of the biochemical parameters
indicated that urea was significantly (p<0.05) influenced
by increasing levels of MOSM compared to the control.
However, elevated values of serum cholesterol, sodium,
chlorine, glucose and calcium were observed, although,
not significant. All other serum indices were not
significantly (p>0.05) influenced by increasing levels of
MOSM. The study suggests that the dietary inclusion of
MOSM significantly reduced weight gain but did not
reduce the serum cholesterol levels in the broiler birds.
ER  -