- Title
- The effect of replacing antibiotic growth promoters with moringa oleifera leaf powder on growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune organ indices, gut microflora, physicochemical and sensory quality of broiler meat
- Creator
- Nantapo, Carlos Wyson Tawanda
- Subject
- Moringa oleifera Meat--Quality Broilers (Chickens)
- Date
- 2018
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Doctoral
- Type
- Animal Science
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17749
- Identifier
- vital:41197
- Description
- The objective of the study was to determine the effect of feeding graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal powder (MOLP) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, economic analysis, health status, physicochemical, sensory properties, mineral composition and retention values of meat. A total of 1600 Comb-500 day-old unsexed chicks were allotted to 4 dietary treatment groups, with 4 replicate pens of 100 birds each in a completely randomised design. The dietary treatments were basal diets supplemented with different levels of MOLP as follows; Treatment 1/ control: Basal diet with antibiotic Zinc bacitracin and coccidiostatic Maxiban and no MOLP (0MOLP); Treatment 2: Basal diet included 1percent MOLP (1MOLP); Treatment 3: Basal diet included 3.0 percent MOLP (3MOLP); Treatment 4: Basal diet included 5 percent MOLP (5MOLP). Birds fed basal diets plus 5percent MOLP at starter phase achieved the least FCR 1.53 (P < 0.037), whilst consuming significantly less feed ADFI 47.4 g (P < 0.05). For the entire feeding period, birds fed 5 percent MOLP achieved a favourable FCR of 1.80 among all treatment groups (P < 0.001), but achieved the lowest final live weight (1416 g), carcass weights (1044g) (P < 0.05). Birds fed 0 percent MOLP recorded highest final weight, carcass weight (1339) and the best dressing percentages (76.8percent) (P < 0.05). Abdominal fat levels were reduced by elevating MOLP in diets (P < 0.05). Improvements in proportions of giblets, gizzard, liver and intestine were observed with increase in dietary MOLP. Feed costs increased, while gross and net returns and economic efficiency decreased as dietary MOLP increased. Organ indices of spleen, Bursa of Fabricius and liver were significantly increased by 5percent MOLP in the diet (P < 0.05). Macroscopic lesions scores (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds in the 1MOLP treatment group on d 28 and d 35. Control and 5MOLP groups recorded the least bloody excreta scores among all treatment groups (P < 0.05). Highest total aerobic bacteria (TAB), E. coli, C. perfringens counts and the lowest lactobacillus spp counts were observed in all intestinal segments in birds in the 1MOLP treatment group. Lower E. coli and C. perfringens but higher lactobacillus spp counts were observed in control and 5MOLP groups (P < 0.05) in the duodenum and jejunum. Increasing MOLP levels in diets led to lower pH and pHu in both breast and leg muscles (P < 0.05). pH was consistently lower in leg muscles than in breast cuts in all treatments and a large decline in post-mortem pH was observed in all muscles of birds in control group. A dietary increase in MOLP level led to a significant increase in L* and b* (P < 0.05) negative correlation between pH and L* (r = -0.463) (P < 0.05) and a weak but significant (P < 0.001) correlation (r = 0.176) between pH and drip loss. Herb flavour (P = 0.0029), appearance (P = 0.0156), aroma (P = 0.0011), colour (P = 0.0375), taste (P = 0.0032) and overall acceptability (P = 0.0192) were improved by grilling, microwave cooking and pan-frying in olive oil. These changes were more pronounced in breast muscle, thus following the trend; microwave > pan-frying in olive oil > grilled samples > boiling for best cooked product based on overall acceptability. Grilling and frying heart muscles resulted in the highest Ca (45.9 mg/kg) and Mg (98.9 mg/kg), whereas boiling led to the lowest Ca (41.1 mg/kg) and Mg (91.4 mg/kg) concentration. The highest concentrations of Fe and Zn these minerals were recorded in grilled (32.7 mg/kg) and fried samples (75.2 mg/kg). Zinc and Fe concentration observed in liver and heart muscles were higher than those found in breast and leg muscle. In conclusion, the results confirm the potential of MOLP for use as an alternative to antibiotics in maintaining broiler health, reducing mortalities and improving carcass characteristics and some meat quality traits.
- Format
- 170 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science and Agriculture
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
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UFH Department of Livestock & Pasture Science
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | PhD Agric (Animal Science) NANTAPO - May 2018.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |