Dietary Supplement of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Meal on Growth Performance and Carcass quality of Grower Broilers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25077/alive.v3.n2.p127-138.2026Keywords:
Anitbiotics, carcass characteristics, feed additives, growth promoter, moringa oleferaAbstract
This study was conducted to assess the impact of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MoLM) on the growth performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens at the growing and finishing stages. Fresh Moringa olefera leaves purchased was washed and air dried for two weeks, milled and incorporated into feed. A total of 108 twenty-eight day-broiler chicks of initial average weight of 940g were used in this experiment. Birds were randomly assigned to three treatments of 36 birds each. Each treatment was sub divided into three replicates of 12 birds each. The three treatments were designated T1(0% MoLM), T2(T 1 + 1% MoLM) and T3 (T1 + 3% MoLM). The experiment lasted for 28 days. Dietary treatments, were labelled as T1 (0% MoLM), T2 (T 1 + 1% MoLM) and T3 (T1 + 3% MoLM). Feeding and watering of birds were served ad-libitum. Productive performance and carcass characteristics of experimental birds were measured. 1 % MoLM diet had the best feed conversion ratio, whiles those on the 3% MoML diet recorded the highest average body weight gain. Carcass analysis indicated that the birds on the 3% MoLM diet had the highest dressing percentage. Sensory evaluation parameters were significantly improved by the inclusion of 3%MoLMin the diet. The 3% MoLM breast cut grilled meat produced highest overall likeness and product intended to buy mean vales. In conclusion, MoLM inclusion to broiler diets up to 3% improved birds’ performance at growing stage. After week 4, the growth promoting property of MoLM was not observed.
Downloads
References
Abbas, F. R., & NAL, A. Abdul-Jabar I, Al-Nassry AS (2019). Effect of adding white tea powder (camellia sinensis) to the japanese quail (coturnix coturnix japonica) birds rations in some traits of blood biochemical and liver enzymes. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci, 7(3), 205-209.
Abou-Elezz, F. M. K., Sarmiento-Franco, L., Santos-Ricalde, R., & Solorio-Sánchez, F. (2011). Nutritional effects of dietary inclusion of Leucaena leucocephala and Moringa oleifera leaf meal on Rhode Island Red hens’ performance. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 45(2), 163-169.
Adogla-Bessa T., Sarkwa F. O., Adjorlolo L. K., Timpong-Jones, E. C., Idan, F., Nyarko-Gyimah, A., and Tudeka, C.K. (2022). Performance indicators of sheep fed rice straw supplemented with browse leaves. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 22(5): 20401-20414.
Ali, N. A. L., & Al-Shuhaib, M. B. S. (2021). Highly effective dietary inclusion of laurel (Laurus nobilis) leaves on productive traits of broiler chickens. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 43, e52198
Alidou, C., Salifou, A., Djossou, J., Mazou, M., Tchebo, F.P. & Soumanou, M.M. (2016). Roasting effect on anti0nutritional factors of the Moringa oleifera leaves. Int. J. Adv. Res. 4, 78-85.
Aroche, R., Martínez, Y., Ruan, Z., Guan, G., Waititu, S., Nyachoti, C. M., ... & Lan, S. (2018). Dietary inclusion of a mixed powder of medicinal plant leaves enhances the feed efficiency and immune function in broiler chickens. Journal of Chemistry, 2018(1), 4073068.
Bamgbose, A.M., Oyewoye, E.O., Apata-Olakulehin, H.O., Mohammed, A.S., & Musa, A.M. (2016). Utilization of Roasted full-fat Soyabean in diets for Broiler Chickens. Nigerian Society for Animal Production proceeding Abeokuta. 176-177.
Banjo, S. (2012). Growth and performance as affected by inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in broiler chick diet. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2(9), 35-38.
Biswas, A., Mandal, A. B., Tyagi, P. K., & Deo, C. (2015). Effect of feeding Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves on immunity, carcass traits and keeping quality of meat of broiler chickens. Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 50(3), 300–304.
Charoenying, P., Laosinwattana, C., Phuwiwat, W., & Lomratsiri, J. (2008). Biological activities of Zanthoxylum limonella Alston fruit extracts. KMITL Sci J, 8(1), 12-5.
Chiseva, S. (2006). The growth rates and feed conversion ratios of fry fed conventional fry diets and Moringa oleifera supplemented diets. B. Sc. Dissertation, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe.
Coleman, F. N., Ohene-Adjei, S. and Barnes, A. (2018). Evaluation of Selected Local Spices on Sensory Characteristics of Fresh Pork Sausage. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Vol. 7, No. 1, 2018, pp. 5-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnfs.20180701.12.
Compaoré, W.R, Nikièma, P.A., Bassolé, H.I.N., Savadogo, A., Mouecoucou, J., Hounhouigan, D.J. & Traoré, S.A. (2011). Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of seeds of Moringa oliefera and pulps of Parkia biglobosa and Adansonia digitate commonly used in food fortification. Current Research Journal of Biological Science, 3(1) 64-72.
Cui, H., Liu, L., Liu, X., Wang, Y., Nuo, N.L., Tan, X., Zhu, Y., Liu, R., Zhao, G., Wen, J. (2022). A selected population study reveals the biochemical mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in chicken meat. J. Anim. Sci. Biotech., 13, p. 54.
D‘Mello, J.P.F., Acamovic, T. & Walker, A.G. (1987): evaluation of leucaena leaf meal for broiler growth and pigmentation. J. Trop. Agric., 64: 33-35.
Diarra, S. S., Amosa, F., & Lameta, S. (2019). Potential of Morinda (Morinda citrifolia L.) products as alternative to chemical additives in poultry diets. Egyptian Journal of veterinary sciences, 50(1), 37-45.
Eilert, U., Wolters, B. and Nahrstedt, A., (1981). The antibiotic principle of seeds of Moringa oleifera and Moringa stenopetala. Planta Medica, 42(1), 55-61.
Francis, G., Makkar, H.P.S. & Beckar, K. (2005). Plant toxins and detoxification methods to improve and extract Moringa oleifera leaves
Gadzirayi, C. T., Masamha, B., Mupangwa, J. F., & Washaya, S. (2012). Performance of broiler chickens fed on mature Moringa oleifera leaf meal as a protein supplement to soya bean meal. International Journal of Poultry Science, 11(1), 5-10. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2012.5.10.
Gafotor J M, Sarkwa F O, Ayizanga R A, Adjei-Mensah B and Obese F Y (2026). Effect of Megathyrsus maximus (Guinea Grass) leaf meal on performance indices, carcass characteristics and blood profiles of broiler chickens. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 38 (1), Article 03. https://www.lrrd.org/lrrd38/01/03/sark.html
Harshini, A., Tomar, S., Yadav, A.S., Awasthi, M.G. (2022). Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder feeding on the growth performance and meat quality of Kadaknath chicken. Indian J Anim Nutr. 39(4):486-501.
Huyghebaert, G., Ducatelle, R., & Van Immerseel, F. (2011). An update on alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters for broilers. The Veterinary Journal, 187(2), 182-188.
Imoru, A., Onibi, G. E., & Osho, I. B. (2019). Performance characteristics of broiler chickens fed graded levels of moringa (Moringa oleifera lam.) leaf meal in partial replacement of soybean meal. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 31(8). Retrieved from https://www.lrrd.org/lrrd31/8/kolam31117.html.
Jang, A., Liu, X.D., Shin, M.H., Lee, B.D., Lee, S.K., Lee, J.H. & Jo, C. (2008). Antioxidative potential of raw breast meal from broiler chicks fed a dietary medicinal herb extract mix. Poult. Sci. 87, 2382-2389.
Lahucky, R., Nuernberg, K., Kovac, L., Bucko, O. & Nuernberg, G. (2010). Assessment of the antioxidant potential of selected plant extracts – In vitro and in vivo experiments on pork meat. Meat Sci. 85, 779-784.
Manju, L and Bidhan C.M. (2025). Nutrient composition and sensory attributes of meat influenced by dietary inclusion of drumstick (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf meal in broiler Japanese Quail. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research. SP-9(4): 686- 692.
Mielnik, M.B., Aaby, K. & Skrede, G., 2003. Commercial antioxidants control lipid oxidation in mechanically deboned turkey meat. Meat Sci. 65, 1147-1155.
Nduku1, X.P. Mabusela, S.P & Nkukwana, T.T. (2020). Growth and meat quality of broiler chickens fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal, a probiotic and an organic acid. South African Journal of Animal Science. 50 (5).
NY/T 823-(2004). Poultry Production Performance Terminology and Measurement Calculation Method. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Beijing, China, 2004.
Onunkwo, D.N & George, O.S. (2015). Effects of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Meal on the Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Birds IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science: 2319-2380, p-ISSN: 2319-2372. Volume 8, Issue 3 Veterinary. II, Pp 6366.
Phillips, I., Casewell, M., Cox, T., De Groot, B., Friis, C., Jones, R., ... & Waddell, J. (2004). Does the use of antibiotics in food animals pose a risk to human health? A critical review of published data. Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 53(1), 28-52.
Qwele, K., Hugo, A., Oyedemi, S.O., Moyo, B., Masika, P.J. & Muchenje, V., 2013. Chemical composition, fatty acid content and antioxidant potential of meat from goats supplemented with Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves, sunflower cake and grass hay. Meat Sci. 93, 455- 462.
Rathnayake A.R.M.H., Navaratne S.B., Uthpala T.G. (2019) Moringa oleifera plant and the nutritional and medicinal properties of Moringa oleifera leaves. In: Ivi C., Prodyut K., Paul A., Mani A., Kumar T., Prasad K., editors. Trends and Prospects in Processing of Horticultural Crop. Today and Tomorrow’s Printers and Publishers; New Delhi, India: 2019. pp. 251–268.
Safa, M.A. (2012). Effect of feeding different levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the performance and carcass quality of broiler chicks. International Journal of Science and Research (Online Journal), 2319-7064.
Sarkwa, F.O., Madibela, O. R., Adogla-Bessa, T., Mphinyane, W. N., Perkins, J.S. and Timpong-Jones, E.C. (2020). Chemical Composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility and gas production of four browse species and their combinations used as feed for small ruminants. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 28(2):106-117.
Sarkwa FO, Madibela,OR, Adogla-Bessa, T, Perkins JS, Mphinyane WN, Timpong-Jones EC, Pelane –Modutlwe GL, Otu BO, A. S. Coffie AS, and Tudeka CK (2025). Can feeding dried browse leaves to sheep reduce methane emissions and improve weight gain? West Africa Journal of Applied Ecology, 33(1): 102-117.
Siddhuraju, P. & Becker, K., 2003. Antioxidant properties of various solvent extracts of total phenolic constituents from the three different agro-climatic origins of drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera Lam). J. Agric. Food Chem. 51, 2144-2155.
Sravanthi, J. & Rao, S. G. (2014). Antioxidative studies in Moringa oleifera Lam. Annals of Phytomedicine 3(2): 101-105.
Sultana S. (2020). Nutritional and functional properties of Moringa oleifera. Metabol Open. 8:100061. doi: 10.1016/j.metop.2020.100061. PMID: 33145489; PMCID: PMC7596288.
Tekeli, A., Celik, L., & Kutlu, H.R. (2011). Effects of Z. officinale and propolis extracts on the performance, carcass and some blood parameters of broiler chicks. Poult. Sci.1:12-23.
Verma, N., Sehrawat, K. D., Mundlia, P., Sehrawat, A. R., Choudhary, R., Rajput, V. D., ... & Alamri, S. (2021). Potential use of ascophyllum nodosum as a biostimulant for improving the growth performance of vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) marechal. Plants, 10(11), 2361
Vidovic, N., & Vidovic, S. (2020). Antimicrobial resistance and food animals: Influence of livestock environment on the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics, 9(2), 52.
Zhang, X., Zhao, L., Cao, F., Ahmad, H., Wang, G., & Wang, T. (2013). Effects of feeding fermented Ginkgo biloba leaves on small intestinal morphology, absorption, and immunomodulation of early lipopolysaccharide-challenged chicks. Poultry Science, 92(1), 119-130.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Coleman Fred Newman, Yakubu Ansoba Emmanuel, Oppong Darkwah Jerry, Nkwantabisa Gideon, Baturi Stephen, Boadu Solomon, Sarkwa Felix Owusu

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

