Ankleshwar bird, growth performance, Moringa olifera, natural feed.

Since immemorial time, poultry farming is considered as an integral part of livestock rearing as crucial place in India due to most of its population are living in rural parts and has huge potential as it provides an opportunity to uplift the economic growth for the rural farmers and woman's to have supplementary income generation for their family by using low investment cost (Lavania and Verma 2022; Kumar et al., 2020). Due to the adaptability in the adverse climate of the country, the native birds are highly preferred in the rural areas as poultry production promises improved production of meat and eggs.  

Despite the fact that poultry industry in India has created exceptional progress throughout last three decades, nonetheless raising expense and inaccessibility of the feed ingredients are significant hindrance for target production. Feed is that costliest of all inputs and concerning 70% of manufacturing cost is accounted for feed alone (Soren and Kumar 2020). Concerning the health of the consumers, the use of herbal plants and their derivatives can be used as an effective alternative of chemically based feed supplements. Moringa oleifera, native to India grown in tropical and subtropical parts of world. Moringa is a cost-effective and easily available and rich source of minerals, vitamins, amino acids, energy, crude protein, polyphenols and low levels of tannins, trypsin and amylase inhibitors, (Saranya et al., 2023; Leone et al., 2015; Moyo et al., 2012; Makkar and Becker 1997) and with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer properties (Verma et al., 2013). These naturally plant-based growth promoters have potential in enhancing the production and believed to be safe due to no residual toxicity (Jayanti et al., 2017). In previous reports, the supplementation with moringa leaf extract improved the overall performance of the birds without showing any detrimental effect on their health (Verma et al., 2022). Likewise, supplementation with moringa leaves showed the potential to enhance the level of immune response and to improve intestinal health of broiler chicken (Yang et al., 2006). However, as per best of our knowledge no previous such reports are available on the effect of moringa leaf extract supplementation with water of 'Ankleshwar' Indian breed of poultry in growing stage from 4th week to up to 20th week therefore justifies to be investigated. In view of high nutritional aspects and cost effectiveness properties and ease of availability and natural based feed supplement as Moringa oleifera leaves was selected in this investigation to find out a suitable level among different levels of moringa leaves aqueous extract to feed the poultry birds. This experiment was designed with the view to reduce cost of feed and increasing the poultry weight for increasing the income of farmers by supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaves extract in the poultry feed.

Experimental Site: The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of different levels of Moringa oleifera leaf aqueous extract supplementation on growth performance of poultry breed ‘Ankleshwar’ chicks at Poultry unit of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Sumerpur, Pali, Rajasthan for a period of 16 weeks (4-20 weeks) for growth and health performance.

Birds and Housing: Prior to beginning of this investigation trial, the experimental shed, its premises and the equipment were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Saw dust was provided as a bedding material for the birds. A total of two hundred four-weeks-old ‘Ankleshwar’ poultry chicks (mixed sexes) were procured from a Poultry Farm maintained at College of Agriculture, Bhilwara, Rajasthan. The chicks were randomly divided into four different treatment groups and each treatment included fifty chicks. The chicks were reared on deep litter system for the period of sixteen weeks.

Dietary Treatments: To feed the chicks in this investigation the readymade feed was used. Crude protein content 16.0 percent and metabolic energy 2.8 M cal/kg. The chemical analysis of the Moringa leaf was carried out as per AOAC (2012). The feed treatments groups were; as control (T-0), 60 ml of moringa leaf aqueous extract (T-1), 90 ml of moringa leaf aqueous extract (T-2) and 120 ml of moringa leaf aqueous extract (T-3), respectively.

Preparation of Moringa leaf extract: Moringa oleifera leaves were harvested from college farm between January to February and leaves were removed from the stems, sorted, cleaned with tap water, and air dried under shade for 5 days. The dried Moringa leaves were crushed and ground to get Moringa leaf powder. Total 60 g Moringa leaf powder was soaked in one litre of tap water for 24 hrs, and then filtered using a muslin cloth to separate the debris from the filtrate and the collected extract was diluted using fresh water (v/v) to make solutions viz., 60, 90 and 120 ml/1000 ml water respectively. This procedure was carried out daily and the filtrate served to the experimental birds. 

Data collection

Feed intake (g): The daily intake feed was calculated by the difference between total feed offered subtracted by feed left over. The fortnightly record of average feed consumed was obtained for each treatment by dividing the total quantity of feed consumed by the total number of chickens in each treatment.

Body weight gain (g): The gain in the body weight was calculated by subtracting the previous fortnight’s body weight from the current fortnight body weight. The initial weights of the birds were taken at the commencement of the study. The record obtained was used to calculate the average body weight gain.

Feed conversion ratio: The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was determined from the average feed consumed divided by average weight gained by the birds in each treatment. 

Statistical analysis: Data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) based on the Completely Randomized Design model, using Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2012). Where differences occurred at 5 % (p<0.5) they were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test.

A. Proximate composition of Moringa olifera leaves 

The proximate composition of Moringa olifera leaf was used in this experiment (Table 1). Moringa oleifera leaves Dry matter (88.26%), Moisture (11.74%), Crude protein (23.16 %), Organic matter (90.11 %) Crude fibre (9.15%), ether extract (5.10%), Nitrogen free extract (52.70%) and Ash content (9.89%). Our results are in close agreement with Esiegwu (2019) who found the dry matter (93.05 %), moisture (6.95 %), ether extract (6.45 %), crude protein (23.42 %), crude fibre (16.21 %), ash content (10.03 %) and nitrogen free extract (36.94 %) respectively. Meel et al. (2018) who observed that Moringa olifera leaf had organic matter (90.24 %), crude protein (23.31 %), ether extract (4.70 %), crude fibre (9.26 %), nitrogen free extract (52.97 %) and ash content (9.76 %) respectively. In another investigation, lower value of dry matter (77.40 %), higher protein value (26.30 %) and total ash (14.10 %) was also observed and almost at par values of crude fibre (8.8%), ether extract (5.70 %), respectively (Damor et al., 2017). The variations in the nutritive values of Moringa oleifera might be due to the season of harvest, soil fertility level, proportion of leaf and stem, postharvest treatments and existing agro-climatic conditions where trees were grown (Divya et al., 2014). 

B. Impact of Moringa olifera leaf extract on body weight performance of ‘Ankleshwer’ poultry birds

The results showed that the final body weight and weight gain was significantly (P<0.01) higher when supplemented with Moringa olifera leaf aqueous extract (MOLAE) to ‘Ankleshwer’ poultry birds (Table 2). Among different used concentrations, 90 ml L-1 exhibited significantly highest body weight (1426.22g±18.12) as compared to control (1283.82g ± 24.54) and other treatment groups. The MOLAE (90 ml L-1) recorded the highest body weight gain may be due to higher protein content in the diet (Safa and Taji 2014; Meel and Sharma 2021). In our investigation the MOLAE when supplemented with 120 ml L-1 showed a lower body weight due to the negative effect of the anti-nutritional factors present in Moringa olifera leaf meal on the birds and higher intake of tannin, phytate and oxalate leading to nutrient in balance and poor metabolism (Sara et al., 2020; Tijani et al., 2016; Iheukwumere et al., 2008). Present findings are comparable with the results reported by Esiegwu (2019) who observed a higher body weight gain on 60-day old broilers when supplemented with Moringa olifera leaf water (MOLW) 150 g 20 L-1 water as compared with 250 g 20 L-1 MOLW and control. Sara et al. (2020) also investigated that cob broiler birds when fed with control, 3 %, 5 % and 7 % Moringa olifera leaf meal (MOLM) and found that among all the concentrations 3 % MOLM recorded the highest body as compared to all other concentrations. 

C. Impact of Moringa olifera leaf extract on Feed Intake performance of ‘Ankleshwer’ poultry birds

There was a non significant decrease in total feed intake when birds supplemented with 60 ml L-1, 90 ml L-1, 120 ml L-1 compared to control groups (Table 2).  The control group (T-0) recorded the higher total feed intake as compared to 120 ml L-1 MOLAE, 60 ml L-1 MOLAE and 90 ml L-1 MOLAE, respectively. The reduction in feed intake with inclusion of MOLAE might be improved digestion and metabolism activities of Moringa oleifera (Alabi et al., (2017). Furthermore, leaves of Moraga oleifera are rich in carotenoids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, alkaloids, and flavonoids (Siddhuraju and Becker 2003). These results are in accordance with the findings of Sara et al. (2020) who observed total feed intake on Cobb broiler and observed no significance differences between the experimental groups fed on the basal diets containing 0 % (4037 g/bird ), 1% (3987 g/bird), 3% (3990 g/bird), 5% (4100 g/bird) and 7% (4120 g/bird) MOLM. This finding is similar to those of Ashong and Brown (2011), who reported that the control group had higher feed intake compared to the treatment groups when Moringa oleifera leaf meals were fed to White Leghorn type of chickens. There was a marked reduction in the feed consumption of birds fed on 7% MOLM diet. This reduction might be due to reduced palatability of the diet (Kakengi et al., 2003). In contrast to present findings Safa and Taji (2014) observed significant difference in the feed intake of the birds among the treatments. The feed intake increased significantly (P<0.05) with the increasing level of MOLM. 

D. Impact of Moringa olifera leaf extract on Feed conversion ratio of ‘Ankleshwer’ poultry birds

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly (P<0.05) improved with 90 ml L-1 MOLAE (T-2) compared to 60 ml L-1, 120 ml L-1 and control groups (Table 2). The improvement in FCR was recorded in the sequence as 120 ml L-1 MOLAE >60 ml L-1 MOLAE > 90 ml L-1 MOLAE > control, respectively. This might be due to the presence of bioceutical agents in Moringa oleifera plant as previously reported by Lannaon (2007) and bacterial and immune-stimulant activities of Moringa oleifera plant (Ghazalah and Ali 2008). Meel and Sharma (2021) also reported that the diet supplemented with 1.5% Moringa olifera leaf meal showed better feed conversion ratio in broiler chicks (Vencobb-400) for the experimental period of 42 days. Likewise, Sara et al., (2020) who reported that broilers when fed on a diet containing 3% MOLM achieved better feed conversion (1.59; P < 0.001) compared with other experimental groups in broiler chicks ‘Cobb’ for up to 42 days. Alabi et al. (2017) also found that FCR was significantly improved with an inclusion of 90 ml L-1 and 120 ml L-1 (1.46 and 1.50 respectively) as compared to control (1.58) in Hubbard broiler chicks for up to six weeks. Likewise, in another investigation, Esiegwu (2019) who found the higher FCR when supplemented with moringa leaf powder @ 150 g 20 L-1 water. 

E. Mortality of ‘Ankleshwer’ poultry birds

Mortality percentage was not significantly influenced by different levels of MOLAE (Table 2). Mortality was 4.0 %, 1.0 %, 1.50 % and 3.0 % in T-0, T-1, T-2 and T-3, respectively which is negligible in poultry production. However, there was no significant effect on the health of experimental birds when supplemented with Moringa olifera leaf aqueous extract. Previously, in a similar investigation Safa and Taji (2014) had also observed non significant results for the mortality rate in Ross broilers for the period of seven weeks.

Table 1: Proximate composition of Moringa oleifera leaf.

Table 2: Effect of different levels of Moringa olifera leaf aqueous extract (MOLAE) on growth performance of ‘Ankleshwar' poultry birds.

Rural poultry production system, particularly semi range-based technology, can be a viable tool for poverty alleviation among landless and small land holder masses. From this investigation it can be concluded that dietary incorporation of Moringa oleifera leaf aqueous extract 90 ml L-1 is a vital source of nutrients and alternative sustainable feed ingredient for ‘Ankleshwar’ native birds. 

This investigation delivers key information for the application of naturally herbal based feed supplementation on the health and growth performance of poultry bird cv. ‘Ankleshwar’. Furthermore research exploration will encourage the farmers to use the herbal based feed supplements ahead of chemically based feed supplements. Owing to the cost effectiveness and benefits on growth performance, human-health and environment the application of naturally based feed supplements can be further explored.   

 M.P. Verma, Pankaj Lavania, A.K. Baswal and Ajesh Kumar  (2024). Efficacy of Moringa olifera Leaf Aqueous Extract Supplementation on Growth Performance of Native ‘Ankleshwar' Poultry Birds. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(3): 257-261.