Effect of graded levels of undeshelled defatted moringa oleifera seed cake (udmosc) on growth and laying performance of Lohmann Brown Layers

Abstract

The effect of undeshelled defatted Moringa oleifera seed cake (UDMOSC) on layer chicken was investigated in an experiment with 3 sequential phases for 9 months. Phases 1 and 2 determined the effect of UDMOSC on growth performance and economic efficiency in production of layer chicks (0 – 8 weeks) and growers (9 – 22 weeks). Phase 3 determined the effect of UDMOSC on productive performance, blood profile, organoleptic characteristics of eggs and economic efficiency of feed in egg production. In the starter and grower phases, a total of 150 day old chicks and 8 weeks old growers were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated three times with each replicate having 10 birds. In the layer phase, a total of 120 (22 weeks old) hens were allocated to the five dietary treatments, replicated three times with each replicate having 8 hens. A completely randomized design was used. The birds were fed starter, grower and layer diets respectively containing 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 15% UDMOSC with enzyme designated as UDMOSC0, UDMOSC5, UDMOSC10, UDMOSC15 and UDMOSC15E respectively for each of the three phases. The results showed that, in the starter phase, chicks fed the test diets had reduced feed intake but final body weight did not vary significantly (P = 0.33). However, chicks on the control diet and UDMOSC5 had significantly higher (P = 0.02) body weight gain. Feed conversion ratio was significantly lower (P = 0.03) in chicks fed UDMOSC5. Mortality rate was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in chicks fed UDMOSC10. In the grower phase, feed intake was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in growers fed the control diet and UDMOSC15E whilst final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher (P = 0.00 and <.00 respectively) in growers fed the control diet. However, feed conversion ratio and mortality rate did not vary significantly (P = 0.45 and 0.60 respectively) among treatments. In the layer phase, final body weight, hen day egg production and number of eggs were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in hens fed the control diet. Hen-house egg production and body weight gain were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in hens fed the control diet and UDMOSC5. Age of first egg, age of 50% lay and egg circumference were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in hens fed UDMOSC15 and UDOSC15E whereas feed intake, yolk colour, WBCs, lymphocytes and monocytes were all significantly lower (P < 0.05) in hens fed UDMOSC15 and UDMOSC15E. MCV and HDL were significantly higher (P = 0.02) in hens fed UDMOSC15 and UDMOSC10 respectively. Hens fed UDMOSC10 prduced significantly lower number of grade 2 eggs while hens fed UDMOSC5 produced significantly higher number of grade 3 eggs (P = 0.03 and 0.04 respectively). Egg and albumen length were significantly lower (P ═ 0.03 and <.00 respectively) in hens fed the control diet whereas egg height, shell thickness, albumen weight and yolk height were all significantly lower (P < 0.05) in hens fed UDMOSC10. Haugh unit score of eggs were all excellent whereas sensory evaluation of eggs did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) between eggs of the control and the test diets. Mortality rate was significantly lower (P = 0.01) in hens fed UDMOSC15E.UDMOSC reduced feed cost per kilogram body weight gain of starters and growers but negatively affected egg production. This study highlights the fact that, though inclusion of UDMOSC at these levels showed a reduction in feed cost hence economically efficient in producing starters and pullets, it is undesirable for egg production and therefore, including UDMOSC in layer diets should be done with caution.