Effect of Feeding Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal with Multienzyme on Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Economics of Production of Broiler Chicks

Among various agriculture and allied farming, poultry farming is one of the most important economic components of the farmer’s economy because it provides eggs, meat, feathers and manure with little capital investment and fewer workforces (Najeeb et al., 2014). In India, the poultry population has increased from 729.2 million to 851.81 million, an increase of almost 17 per cent as per 20^th Livestock Census (DAHD, 2019). Antibiotics, since their discovery in the 1920s, have played a critical role in contributing to the economic effectiveness of animal production as feed supplements at sub-therapeutic doses, to improve growth and feed conversion efficiency and to prevent infections (Castanon, 2007) but due to drug resistance problems associated with antibiotic use most researchers are seeking antibiotic alternatives and feed additives to promote growth and enhance the gut health of animals (Abbas, 2013). Moringa leaves have wide range of medicinal value including growth promotion and antimicrobial effect (Mbikay, 2012). Several researches have showed Moringa leaf meal effects on broilers weight gain, feed conversion ratio and body weight (Olugbemi et al., 2010) and egg production (Teteh et al., 2016).
 
The price of feed ingredients is increasing consistently and now it has been a major constraint. As consequence cheaper and nonconventional feed ingredients have to be used which contain higher percentage of Non-Starch Polysaccharides (NPS) and antinutritive factors which reduced the efficiency of nutrient utilization. Enzymes break down NSPs, reduce intestinal viscosity and ultimately enhanced digestibility of nutrients by improving gut performance. The uses of a combination of various exogenous enzymes in broiler diets have shown a positive effect on the performance and economic production of broiler chicken (Yadava et al., 2009). Some enzymes have potential for use in the poultry feed include cellulase (ß-glucanases), xylanases and associated enzymes, phytases, proteases, lipases and galactosidases. This alters the microflora profile in the small intestine, since enzymes affect the amount and form of the substrate present within the intestine, their use having a direct effect on the bacteria that make up the microfloral population. This leads to augmentation of endogenous digestive enzymes, which are either insufficient or absent in the bird, resulting in improved digestion. Kamble et al., (2007) observed that multienzymes with probiotic (0.75g/kg feed) supplementation results in better broiler performance and increased profit margin (Rs. 0.01-0.36 per bird). Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal with multienzyme on the growth performance, carcass characteristics and economics of production in broiler chicks.

An experiment was conducted with broiler chicks during February - March, 2020 at the poultry farm of College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur. A total of 150, day old, unsexed and apparent healthy Vencobb-400 broilers chicks were procured from a commercial hatchery (Kewalramani Hatcheries Private Limited, Ajmer). The experimental broiler chicks were wing banded for identification and weighed individually before starting the experiment. The broiler chicks were divided randomly into 5 treatment groups (T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅) with three replicates under each treatment. Good quality Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) powder was procured from Sinhal Herbs, Neemuch, M.P. The commercially available multienzyme feed supplement i.e. ENZYCOMP HD was procured from GK Biochemical Corporation, Surat, Gujarat. Various enzymes were present in the product as reported by the manufacturer (Table 1).
 

       
The T₁ i.e. control group was fed on basal diet while T₂, T₃, T₄ and T₅ treatment groups were supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% of moringa leaf meal in combination with multi enzyme @ 50g/100kg feed in the basal broiler starter and finisher ration, respectively. Moringa leaf meal and multienzyme were mixed with the ISO certified basal feed (broiler starter and broiler finisher) of Godrej Agrovet Limited and used for feeding of experimental broiler chicks. The BIS (2007) feeding standard was followed for feeding of broilers during the experimental trial. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. During the feeding trial, weekly feed intake and body weight gain were recorded. At the end of trial, two birds from each replicate were weighed individually and allowed to fast for 12 hour to empty gut contents before sacrifice and slaughtered to record the data on carcass characteristics and organ weights. The organs weight was expressed as gram and dressing yield and eviscerated yield were expressed in the percentage. The chemical compositions of broiler starter, broiler finisher and MOLM were analysed according to the standard methods of analysis (AOAC, 2016). Feed conversion ratio and economics of production were calculated from the primary data. The data on various parameters were subjected to ANOVA (Snedecor and Cochran, 1989) and means were tested for significant differences as per Duncan’s multiple range test (Duncan, 1955).

The broiler starter feed contained 22.36% crude protein, 4.13% ether extract, 3.70% crude fiber, 6.75% total ash, 63.06% nitrogen free extract, 1.25% acid insoluble ash, 9.90% neutral detergent fiber, 3.33% acid detergent fiber, 1.16% calcium and 1.18% phosphorus. The broiler finisher feed contained 20.24% CP, 4.56% EE, 3.70% CF, 6.70% TA, 64.80% NFE, 1.35% AIA, 10.11% NDF, 3.53% ADF, 0.88% calcium and 0.93% phosphorus. Whereas, Moringa leaf meal contained 24.56%, 7.10%, 7.82%, 9.20%, 51.32%, 0.51%, 11.30%, 8.39%, 1.58% and 0.30% CP, EE, CF, TA, NFE, AIA, NDF, ADF, Ca and P, respectively. Metabolizable energy contained in starter and finisher ration was 3400.48 and 3418.64 kcal/ kg, respectively. Whereas, calorie protein ratio (E: P ratio) content in starter and finisher ration was 152.07:1 and 168.90:1, respectively.
 
Growth performance
 
Body weight gain (BWG) was highest (P<0.01) in broilers fed diet supplemented with 1.5% MOLM with multi enzyme @ 50g/100 kg feed at starter and finisher phase (Table 2). This result is akin to Egu (2019) who found that the inclusion of MOLM in diet of broilers significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the weight gain at 3 and 6 week age. Swian et al., 2014 observed significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight gain in broilers fed with enzyme supplemented ration than control during starter (0-21 days) and finisher (22-42 days) phase. However, Zakaria et al., (2010) observed no difference in BWG in broilers at 3 weeks of age but increased BWG at 6 week due to addition of multienzyme at different levels (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75g/kg diet). Broilers fed diet supplemented moringa leaf meal at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 % with multienzyme diet consumed significantly less feed compared to those fed control diet and diet supplemented with MOLM at 1.5% and multienzyme @ 50g/100kg diet at 6 weeks of age, whereas there was no change in feed consumption due to dietary treatment at 3 weeks of age. Tekeli et al., (2011) also reported no significant effect (P>0.05) on feed consumption of Moringa oleifera leaf meal. Amerah et al., (2016) reported that feed intake was not influenced (P>0.05) by dietary enzymes during the starter phase. The reduction in feed intake with MOLM supplementation could be due to reduced palatability of the diet (Kakengi et al., 2003) but improvement in feed consumption due to enzyme supplementation may be attributed to overcome the adverse effects of anti-nutritional factors and improve digestion of fibre and non-starch polysaccharides (Sharifi et al., 2013). Significant (P<0.01) improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) was reported in broilers fed MOLM and multienzyme supplemented diet as compared to control at 3 or 6 weeks of age. These results are similar to the findings of Nikam et al., (2016) who reported that supplementation of NSP hydrolyzing enzymes at 1X and 2X concentration did favorably influenced the FCR (P<0.05) during starter and finisher phases. Contrary to this, Haribhau et al., (2020) reported that supplementation of multiple enzymes at 1X and 2X did not influence FCR (P>0.05) during 0-42 days of age.
 

 
Carcass characteristics
 
There was highly significant (P<0.01) effect of supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal with multienzyme on dressing yield and eviscerated yield per cent. The highest values of dressing yield and eviscerated yield percentage were recorded to be 75.15% and 70.15%, respectively in T₄ group containing 1.5% MOLM with multienzyme at 50g/100kg feed and the lowest carcass yield was recorded in control group (Table 2). Sarker et al., (2017) also observed significantly higher dressing percentages for the broilers fed moringa leaf meal (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) than the broilers fed nutritional feed alone. Rambabu et al., (2012) observed significant difference for dressing and eviscerated weight percentage in broilers fed with enzyme supplemented ration than control. However, Sangilimadan et al., (2012) and Verma et al., (2012) observed dressing and eviscerated weight percentage differs non-significantly in broilers fed with enzyme supplemented ration than control.
       
The relative weight of liver, heart, gizzard and giblet was significantly higher (P<0.01) in broilers fed Moringa oleifera leaf meal with multienzyme as feed additive in the ration. Highest weight of liver, heart, gizzard and giblet was recorded to be 76.98, 12.90, 37.12, 127.00g respectively in T₄ group containing 1.5 % MOLM with multienzyme (Table 2). Similarly, Abousekken (2015) reported significant (P<0.05) higher values of organ weight (%) of gizzard, liver and heart of birds fed moringa leaves extracts. Voemesse et al., (2018) observed that gizzard weight was significantly increased (P<0.05) in chickens fed 0, 1 and 3% MOLM as compared to control. In contrast, Mikhail et al., (2020) found non-significant effect on giblet, liver and gizzard weight of broilers fed MOLM at 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5% level. Hamid and Mukhtar (2016) reported that feeding of broiler chicks on different level of moringa leaf meal with or without enzyme on heart, liver and gizzard showed no significantly (P>0.05) difference among treated groups. This might be due to efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients leading to better growth and development of the gut.
 
Cost benefit analysis
 
Results indicated that addition of Moringa oleifera leaf meal with multienzyme reduce the overall cost (Rs) of feed per kg gain as compared to control but maximum reduction in overall cost of feed per kg gain was obtained in T4 group (Basal diet + 1.5% MOLM + multienzyme 50g/100kg) i.e.13.13% reduction (Table 3). Increased meat yields are required for better profitability and increased dressing percentage in broilers was observed in Moringa oleifera leaf meal with multi enzyme supplemented groups. It might be attributed to better FCR on supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal and multienzyme. Similarly, higher (P<0.05) net profit has been recorded by the earlier workers on supplementation of mixture of probiotics and enzymes (Swain et al., 2009) in poultry.

The results of the study showed that 1.5% Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) could be included into the diet of broiler chickens with multienzyme @ 50g/100kg feed for beneficial  effects in terms of improved overall performance of broilers and increased margin of profit in broiler production. The feeding of moringa leaf meal with multienzyme is beneficial as a growth promoter or feed supplement in commercial broiler production.

The authors are thankful to authorities of the RAJUVAS, Bikaner and Dean, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Navania, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur for providing necessary facilities and financial support to carry the Ph.D. research work.