Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Organoleptic Properties of Finisher Broilers Administered Aqueous Extract of Moringa Oleifera Leaf.

Abstract

The effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf on performance, nutrient digestibility and organoleptic properties of Hubbard broiler chickens were carried out using a total of 240-day-old Hubbard broiler chicks. They were randomly assigned to six treatments. Each treatment group were further replicated four times, with forty birds per replicate over a period of 8 weeks. Treatment 1 served as the control (having the antibiotics), while treatment two was given ordinary water to serve as AEMOL0 (Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf). Treatment 3, 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 30ml, 60ml, 90ml and 120ml of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf (AEMOL) respectively. At the end of the trial, two birds per replicate were slaughtered to evaluate the organoleptic properties of the meat, parameters such as appearance, flavour. juiciness, tenderness and general acceptability were observed and subjected to one-way analysis of variance .(ANOVA) based on the completely randomized design (CRD), using statistical analysis system (SAS, 2013). Where significant differences occurred at P<0.05, they were separate using Duncan Multiple Range Test (SAS, 2013). The results of this study showed that aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf inclusion had effect on all the parameters measured except for the initial weight and mortality. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera leaf inclusion levels up to 90ml/l can be used to replace antibiotic growth promoter without compromising the advantages of antibiotic growth promoter in team of performance, digestibility and organoleptic parameters.