The Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal Supplementation on Growth and Health of Village Chickens
Keywords:
Moringa leaf meal, Village Chickens, Digestibility, Microbial load, Blood Antibody titre levels
Abstract
Objectives and Study Design: In a quest to intervene in high mortality incidences and poor growth among village chickens in Zambia, two experiments were carried out to study the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on growth and health of village chickens. In experiment one, a total of sixty village chickens were blocked by body weight and were randomly assigned to receive isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% Moringa leaf meal on weight basis. The experimental design was a 4x3 randomized complete block design. Individual body weights were taken on a weekly basis, while faecal samples were collected fortnightly for digestibility and microbial load assessments, using proximate analysis and plate count, respectively. In experiment 2, a total of 60 village chickens were divided equally between sex and type into 12 groups and assigned at random to three isonitrogenous and isocaloric dietary treatments containing 5%, 10% and 15% Moringa leaf meal on weight basis. The experimental design was a 3x2x2 factorial design with three Moringa leaf meal levels in the diets, sex (male or female) and chicken type (large or small) as the factors. Blood samples were taken from the wing veins using sterile needles for antibody titre level analysis using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method. Results: Results from experiment one revealed that growth were 41% and 49% (P<0.05) higher in Village chickens receiving diets with 0% and 10% Moringa leaf meal, respectively than those receiving 20% and 30%. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the faecal bacteria count with diets containing 10% Moringa leaf meal having the lowest counts. The results from experiment two revealed that there were significant differences between treatment means for antibody titre levels fourteen days after vaccinating against Newcastle disease. The blood antibody titre level for chickens on MIO was over 1000pL whereas those on MS and M15 had 783 and 876, respectively. For the chickens on Ml 0, this can be attributed to an efficient response system of the various kinds of effector cells, with T-cells being fundamental to this control. These cells secrete cytokinines that act on effector cells to enhance their cytotoxic or cytostatic capabilities and increase cell numbers. There were no differences (P>0.05) between treatment means for antibody titre levels before and 7 days after vaccinating against Newcastle disease. In both scenarios, the MIO treatment, however, had antibody titres that were at higher and insignificant (P<0.05) levels. Differences (P<0.05) occurred 14 days after the vaccination, with MIO having the highest antibody titre levels. This explains why the chickens in both experiments were able to resist infections and had less mortality than those on other treatments. Conclusion: The results from the two experiments indicate that 10% inclusion of Moringa leaf meal in the diet promotes growth and optimum utilization of the natural antimicrobials/herbal medicines.References
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2. Babatunde G.M., A.O. Fajimi and A.O. Oyejide. Rubber seed oil versus palm oil in broiler chicken diets. Effects on performance, nutrient digestibility, haematology and carcass characteristics. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 35: 133-146, 1992.
3. Becker, K., 1995. Studies on utilization of Moringa oleifera leaves as animal feed. Institute for Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, vol. 480. University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, p. 15.
4. Bouatene Djakalia, Bohoua Louis Guichard and Dabonne Soumaila. Effect of Moringa oleifera on growth performance and health status of young post-weaning rabbits. Research Journal of Poultry Science, 4 (l): 7 — 13,
5. Caceres A, Cabrera D. Morales O, Mollinedo P, Mendia P., 1991, "Pharmacological properties of Moringaoleifera l : preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity". Journal ofEthnopharmacology, 33, 2 13-216.
6. Duke J.A., 1 987, "Moringaceae: Horseradish-tree, benzolive-tree, drumstick-tree, sohnja, moringa, murunga-kai, malunggay. In: M. Benge (ed.) Moringa: A multipurpose vegetable and tree that purifies water", Journal ofScienceand Technology/ For., Environment and Natural Resources Agro-Forestation Tech. Ser. 27, 19-28 USAID, Washington, D. C.
7. Fuglie L.J., 1999, The Miracle Tree: Moringa oleifera: Natural Nutrition for the Tropics. Church World Service, Dakar. 68 pp.; revised in 2001 and published as The Miracle Tree: The MultipleAttributes ofMoringa, 172pp.
8. Gueye, E.E (1997). Senegalese poultry industry expands with various bottlenecks. World Poultty 13: 10-11
9. Haazele, Maimbo, Musukwa and D Lungu (2000).Manual for Effective Management ofVillage chicken to Enhance Production, Smallholder Enterprise and Marketing Programme, Lusaka, Zambia.
10. Jayavardhanan KK, K Suresh, KR Panikkar, and DM Vasudevan, 1994, 'Modulatory potency of drumstick lectinon the host defense system", Journal QfExperimental Clinical Cancer Research 1 3(3): 205-209.
11. Kakengi A M V, Kaijage J T, Sarwatt S V, Mutayoba S K,Shem M N and Fujihara T., of Moringaole(fera leaf meal as a substitute for sunflower seed meal on performance of laying hens in Tanzania",Livestock Research for Rural Development, Volume 19, Article #120.
12. MakkarHPS and Becker K., 1996, "Nutritional value and anti nutritional components of whole and extracted Moringa oleifera leaves," Animal Feed Science and Technolou, Volume 63, 211 -228
13. Martin FW, RM Ruberte, and LS Meitzner, 1998, .Edible leaves Qfthe Tropics, 3 Edition. Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization,• Inc., N. Ft. Meyers, F. L. 194 pp.
14. McDonald P, Edwards R A, Greenhalgh J F O and Morgan.C.A., 1995, .Animal Nutrition, 4 th Edition. John Wiley and sons; USA. p 607.
15. Maxwell M.H., Robertson, W., Spener S. and Maclorquodale C.C. Comparison Qf haemnatological parameters in restricted and ad libitum fed domestic fowls. British Poultry Science 3 1: 407 —413, 1990.
16. Moyo, Busan, Masika, Patrick Julius and Muchenje, Voster., 201 1. Antimicrobial Activities of Moringa oleifera Lam leqf extracts. African Journal of Biotechnology I : 2797 - 2802
17. Mupeta, B., wood, J., and Mhlanga, J., 2002. The performance Qf village chickens under improved feed management compared with the hybrid chickens in Zbnbabwe. DFID project R7527. NR International, Aylesford, Kent, Uk.
18. Nakamura, H., Narita, M., Kawamura, K., Shirai, J., Furuta and Abe, F. (1 990). An Immuno-histological Study on the nephritis in chicks experimentally produced with avian nephritis. Journal QfAvian pathology, Volunte 19,497-509.
19. Oduro, 1. , Ellis, W.O. and owUsU, D. (2008). Nutritional potential of two leafy vegetables: Moringa Oleifera and Impomea batatas leaves. Scientific research and essay,
20. Poppi, D.P., McLennan, S.R., 1995. Protein and energy utilization by ruminants at pasture. Journal of. Animal. Science. Volume 73, 278-290.
21. Ray-Yu Yangl, Lien-Chung Chang, Jenn-Chung Hsu, Brian B. C. weng, Manuel C. Palada, M. L. Chadha and VirginieLevasseur, (2006). Nutritional and Functional Properties of Moringa Leaves-From Germplasm, to Plant, to Food, to Health. Nutrition, Plant Breeding, and Crop and Ecosystem Management, AVRDC- The World Vegetable Center, Shanhua, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
22. Sarwatt S V, Kapange S S and Kakengi A M V (2002) The effects on intake, digestibility and growth of goats when sunflower seed seed cake is replaced with Moringa oleifera leaves in supplements fed with Chloris gayana hay. Agroforestry systems Volume 56:241-247
23. SAS Institute Inc, 1998, SAS/ STAT Users Guide release. 6.03 Edition. Carry, Inc., 1028 pp.
24. Spradbrow, P.B., Jayawardane, G.W.L. (1993-94). Cell Mediated Immunity in chickens Vaccinated with the V4 strin of New Castle Disease Virus. Journal of Poultry Science. Volume 72: 7.
Published
2025-09-10
How to Cite
1.
Chongwe A, Nyirenda D, Lungu J, Simbaya J. The Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal Supplementation on Growth and Health of Village Chickens. Journal of Agricultural and Biomedical Sciences [Internet]. 10Sep.2025 [cited 14Sep.2025];1(2):65-1. Available from: https://journals.unza.zm/index.php/JABS/article/view/1547
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Agriculture Sciences
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