Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 9(2): 170-177
Http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2021/9.2.170.177
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Regine Erebaren Eladia1, Keiven Mark B. Ampode2*

1Provincial Agriculture Office, Koronadal City, 9506, Philippines; 2College of Agriculture, Sultan Kudarat State University – Lutayan Campus, 9803, Philippines.

Abstract | The poultry industry recently utilized locally abundant plant sources that are phytobiotics and environmentally friendly to improve production performance and boost the fowl’s immune system. However, plants may contain some anti-nutritive factors that might negatively affect the production performance. A total of sixty-day-old broiler chickens were used to investigate the potential of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) Pod Meal (MPM) on production performance and cell-mediated immunity. The broiler chickens were assigned in a Completely Randomized Design experimental set-up with four dietary treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times, with five birds in every replication and fed with MPM at 0 (T1), 5 (T2), 10 (T3), and 15% (T4) levels in 42 days feeding trial. Moringa pod meals’ chemical composition contains 13.02% crude protein, 36.98% crude fiber, 5.94% ash, and 11.33% moisture. The results revealed no significant differences (p>0.05) in the final weight, body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens. Numerically, the highest final weight and weight gains were observed in birds fed with MPM. Moreover, the voluntary feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) affected when MPM was incorporated into the diet. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) observed in the indicators of cell-mediated immunity (immune organ indices), but numerical values showed higher in broiler chickens fed with MPM than broilers without MPM in the diet. The highest return of investment was observed in T3 with PhP106.48, and T1 obtained the lowest income generated with Php101.49 per bird. In light of the findings, incorporating MPM in the diets seems potential to improve broiler chickens production and immune responses, however further studies using large population of birds should be warranted.

Keywords | Malunggay, Broiler chicken, Growth performance, Lymphoid organs, Immune response