Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on growth performance, apparent digestibility, digestive organ size and carcass yield in broiler chickens

Researchers tested whether moringa leaf meal could replace antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken feed by examining growth performance and digestive health outcomes. The study involved 2400 one-day-old Cobb-500 broiler chicks divided into five treatment groups over 35 days. Birds received either antibiotic supplements (positive control), three different concentrations of moringa leaf meal (low, medium, and high doses), or no supplements (negative control). The moringa leaves were carefully sourced from the same village and processed into meal to ensure consistency. Results showed that chickens fed the highest moringa concentration achieved superior body weight compared to antibiotic-treated birds at key measurement points (7 and 21 days), while antibiotic-treated birds had the lowest weights. This finding suggests moringa leaf meal may outperform traditional antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production. The research addresses growing concerns about antibiotic resistance in livestock farming by evaluating a natural alternative. The study measured multiple parameters including growth rates, feed digestibility, organ development, and carcass characteristics to provide a thorough assessment of moringa's effects on broiler performance. These results indicate moringa could offer poultry producers an effective, natural growth enhancement strategy while reducing reliance on antibiotics in animal feed systems.