Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder Feeding on the Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Kadaknath Chicken

Abstract

Optimization of feed cost is the major challenge, dietary modulations by inclusion of herbal feed supplements with partial replacement of energy and protein sources is the alternative for animal nutritionists. This experiment was conducted to study the growth parameters, nutrient retention, carcass attributes, meat quality and feed cost economics of Kadaknath chicken breed under supplementary feeding of Moringa oleifera dried leaf powder, an unconventional feed ingredient. 160-day old chicks were randomly assigned to four treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 of 40 birds each. The levels of M.oleifera leaf powder dietary inclusion to these groups were 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% to the basal diet. Growth performance was studied for 17 weeks, by recording weekly feed intake and feed efficiency at three weeks interval. There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the feed intake of supplemented groups, however feed efficiency was improved (p<0.05). The final body weight of T2 group was statistically similar to the T1. Nutrient balance study was performed in adult chicken (16-weeks-old), to validate the results of growth trial. The reduction in feed intake of supplemented groups did not affect their retention of nutrients (p<0.05). Carcass parameters, sensory, physical and nutritive quality of meat was estimated by sacrificing the birds of market weight of that breed. There was no significant difference in the yield and quality of meat except for the TBARS values of frozen meat. The oxidative stability of meat from supplemented groups was significantly increased (p<0.05) with the increase in dietary inclusion level. Inclusion of leaf powder to basal diets also reduced the feed cost. The results of this study provides the maximum possible inclusion level of M.oleifera leaf powder for use in the slow growing breeds of chicken during starter (5%) and grower phase (10%).