RESPONSE OF BROILERS TO TREATED DIETARY Moringa oleifera SEED CAKE

Abstract

A 56- day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary raw and Ammonium hydroxide treated Moringa oleifera seed cake (AHMOSC) on performance, serum and haematological characteristics, and nutrient retention of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty day- old Arbor acre chickens were used in this experiment. They were fed five different diets as follows; Diet 1-the control devoid of Moringa oleifera seed cake (MOSC), diet 2-raw MOSC, diets 3, 4, and 5 –MOSC soaked in 10, 20, and 30% Ammonium hydroxide solution. Broilers fed graded level of AHMOSC had similar (p<0.05) DWG, FI and FCR with the control (61.73 to 61.99 vs. 59.99; 103.75 to 104.74 vs. 102.51 g/bird/day and 1.67 to 1.69 vs. 1.71, respectively, and were significantly (p>0.05) better than value for raw MOSC. The haematological indices and serum chemistry of chickens fed treated MOSC were poorer than the control but significantly (p<0.05) better than those of raw MOSC. In conclusion, treatment of MOSC with Ammonium hydroxide was effective in reducing its anti-nutritional contents and can be used as protein supplement in poultry diet. This study recommends the use of 20% ammonium hydroxide in treatment of MOSC for improvement of its nutritive value.