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0Productive Performance and Immune Response of Two Broiler Breeds to Dietary Moringa Supplementation
Mona El Sayed Mahmoud Younis1, Hamada Abdelaziz Ahmed2* and Ahmed Ragab Elbestawy3
lDepartmant of Animal Husbandrand Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Egypt 2Departmant of Nutrition and Veterinary Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Egypt 3Departmant of Poultry and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Egypt
Corresponding author's Email: Hamada_nutrition@yahoo.com
Received: 12 Oct. 2016 Accepted: 14 Dec. 2016
ABSTRACT
Antibiotic growth promoters were widely used to improve broiler performance however with the increased problems associated with its use such as their residues and subsequent resistance to bacteria has caused them to replace antibiotics for herbs and plant extract alternatives (phytogenics). One hundred and fifty Cobb500 chicks and 150 Ross 308 chicks were distributed from two to six weeks of age into three treatments (50 birds/ treatment) which included 2% Moringa oleifera supplemented ration (M 2%), 3% Moringa oleifera supplemented ration (M 3%) and control treatment for both breeds, moreover, chicks of each treatment were distributed into five replicates (10 birds/replicate). Ross breed achieved significantly higher (P<0.05) body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and breast muscle weight compared to Cobb breed. Moreover Ross breed responded better to dietary Moringa oleifera supplementation than Cobb. Firstly M(3%) was decreasing body weight and weight gain than M(2%) however with time the opposite occurred with carcass cuts and internal organs weights were not affected significantly (P<0.05) with dietary Moringa oleifera supplementation. Ross 308 breed showed an increase in HI titer against Newcastle disease virus than Cobb 500 breed. Finally we concluded that the Ross breed respond better to dietary Moringa oleifera supplementation. However, more future researches are required to study the response of different broiler breeds to different dietary Moringa levels.
Key words: Moringa oleifera, Breed, Performance, Immunity, Newcastle disease virus
JWPR
Journal of World's Poultry Research
© 2016, Scienceline Publication
J. World Poult. Res. 6(4): 191-198, Dec 25, 2016
Research Paper, PII: S2322455X1600023-6 License: CC BY 4.0
INTRODUCTION
A lot of feed additives are being used in the poultry industry to maximize growth performance of broilers. Use of in-feed-antibiotics leads to residues in meat and eggs, increases the cost of production and develops microbial resistance to different antibiotics. However inhabit usage of Antibiotic Growth Promoters (AGPs) from poultry feed may affect their production performance and encourage regenerated pathogens leading to diseases and economic losses in farms (Yang et al., 2009)
Moringa is a genus from the plant family called Moringaceae. This genus comprises of 13 species and grow in tropical and subtropical climates (Yang, et al., 2006). All parts of the Moringa oleifera tree has beneficial properties. It is a multipurpose tree, various parts of which
are used as feed stuff. Moringa contains high antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds (Yang, et al., 2006). Nutrient composition of Moringa oleifera leaves indicates a rich nutrient profile of important minerals, a good source of protein and amino acids, vitamins, ß -carotene and various phenolics with multiple feed additive purposes (Moyo et al., 2011).
Juniar et al. (2008) found that the inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal at amounts up to 10% did not produce significant (P> 0.05) effects on feed consumption, body weight, feed conversion ratio and carcass weight in broiler chickens. Many researchers have reported a major effect of the genotype on live weight (Ojedapo et al., 2008; Razuki et al., 2011), feed conversion, carcass composition (Marcato et al., 2006; Nikolova and Pavlovski, 2009), carcass weight (Rondelli et al., 2003),
To cite this paper: Mona EMY, Hamada AA and Ahmed RE. 2017. Productive Performance and Immune Response of Two Broiler Breeds to Dietary Moringa Supplementation. J. World Poult. Res., 6 (4): 191-198.
and abdominal fat (Barbato, 1992; Fontana et al., 1993). However, the question now is if the various broiler breeds will response differentially to Moringa supplementation?
Muhammd et al. (2016) observed that Moringa oleifera leaf meal may replace dietary soya beans meal up to 15%, with optimum level of 5% in growing Japanese quails, its effect on growth performance, immune function, and ileum microflora in broilers was studied by Yang et al. (2007) and they found a significant enhancement of duodenum traits, and enhancements of the immune system in broilers were observed.
Thus the objective of this study is to investigate the effect of inclusion different levels of dietary Moringa oleifera leaves on productive performance, carcass characters, blood antioxidants and immune response of two broiler breeds from 2 to 6 weeks age.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Birds and experimental design
This work was applied in experimental poultry unit, faculty of veterinary medicine, Damanhour University, Egypt within August and November 2015. 150 Cobb500 chicks and 150 Ross 308 chicks were obtained from Arab poultry breeders company Ommat. The chicks of each strain were distributed into three treatments (50 birds/ treatment) which included 2% Moringa supplemented ration (M 2%), 3% Moringa supplemented ration (M 3%) and control treatment, moreover chicks of each treatment were distributed into five replicates (10 birds/replicate). Chicks were brooded under gas brooder supplied 33°C at the first week reduced 3°C per week till reaching 24°C. Light was supplied for 24 hours during the first 48 hours of life then lighting duration was reduced to 18 hours per day. Chicks were fed with starter ration (23% Crude Protein (CP) during first two weeks without the addition of Moringa. the Experiment was initiated at two weeks of age where chicks were fed on grower ration from two weeks till six weeks of age after the addition of moringa to treated groups at level of 2% and 3%. All chicks were vaccinated with HB1+H120 at eight days of age, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) at 12 days and La Sota at 18 days of age and all vaccines were applied through drinking water after following all precautions.
Moringa source and preparation
Moringa leaves used in this experiment were obtained as a powder product from the farm of Moringa friends at Sadat city, Menfoia, Egypt, then it was added to ration from two weeks till 6 weeks of age at two
concentration 2% and 3%. The proximate analysis of Moringa leaves showed in the following table 1.
Table 1. Chemical composition (%) of Moringa leaves
P % Ca Ash EE Cp DM
According to % % % % %
AOAC 2005
0.77 2.10 12.3 11.7 7.25 89.6
DM= Dry matter; Cp= Crude protein; Ca=calcium; P=phosphorus
Performance traits
Body weight: body weight measured to most exact gram weekly from two weeks till six weeks of age using sensitive scale.
Weight gain= W2 - W1 where W1 = is the weight at any week and W2 = the weight at the next week.
Feed intake/ bird/ week
Water intake/ bird/ week
Mortality/treatment/week
Feed Conversion Ratio was estimated according to Lambert etal. (1936).
feed intake (g)/bird/week weight gain (g)/bird/weelt
Carcass traits
At six weeks of age three birds per replicate were slaughtered after starvation for 12 hours with continued water supply (Sadek et al., 2014). The birds were weighed before being slaughtered then weighing again after evisceration to calculate dressing percentage. Abdominal fat (including fat around gizzard) and internal organs (including intestine, liver, gizzard and heart) were weighed to the nearest gram using sensitive scale (0.0000). Carcasses were divided and the weight of thigh, shoulder and left breast were measured.
Chemical analysis
Blood samples were collected from the wing vein at the end of experiment (42 days), serum were separated through centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes and preserved in a deep freezer at (-20°C) until the time of analysis.
Haemagglutination inhibition test
Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) antigen, la Sota strain, was used to test serum samples collected at 35 days of age (10 samples per each group) for antibody titers against NDV as described by Allan et al. (1978). Here the Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) titer was expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution that causes inhibition of agglutination and Gometric Man Titer (GMT) was calculated.
Lactobacillus count was done using Rogosa agar as a selective medium used for the isolation of lactobacilli and the typical colonies appeared after 48 hours of incubation at 37°C in 5% CO2. According to Rogosa et al. (1951) approximately 100 mg of intestinal digesta were collected three times after the end of essential oil treatment at 3, 7 and 14 days and mixed each time with 900^L of sterile saline solution (0.9% NaCl) and homogenized three minutes using a homogenizer. Each digesta homogenate was serially diluted from initial 10-1 to 10-9 and subsequently plated on selective agar media (Rogosa agar) and incubated anaerobically at 37°C for 48h for Lactobacillus count.
Ethical approval
This study was carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations in the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals of the national institutes of health. The protocol was approved by the committee on the ethics of animal experiments of Alexandria university, Egypt (Permit Number: 18261).
Statistical analysis
Body weight data were analyzed using a two way analysis of co-variance for initial body weight data (two weeks body weight) as there is a significant difference of initial weight between the two breeds, however other productive and carcass traits absolute weight data were analyzed using the two way analysis of variance by SAS (2002), Proc GLM (P<0.05).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of breed and Moringa oleifera leaves supplementation and their interaction on broiler performance are shown in table 2. Concerning the effect of breed, there are significant increases (P<0.05) in body weight and weight gain of Ross breed than Cobb allover experimental period (2172.89 g vs. 1784.86 g). Hascik et al. (2010) found that the Ross 308 chicks responded most positively to the feed commercially manufactured compound feed as compared with hybrid Cobb500 and Hubbard JV also, they were the most adaptable in the current farming environment.
Cobb chicken showed significant reduced body weight and body weight gain when fed on different levels of Moringa oleifera as opposed to unsupplemented groups. In contrast to Ross broiler which showed higher body weight and weight gain with Moringa supplemented groups when compared with the control group. However, the differences were not significant. Rashid et al. (2012) found that Ross strain got the highest significant (p<0.05) live body weight gain in comparison with Cobb and Hubbard strains under heat stress and different dietary protein level. These results may be referring to higher ability of Ross breed on acclimatization and adaptation on the new environmental condition or dietary composition than the Cobb breed.
Table 2. Effect of breed, Moringa supplementation and their interactions on weekly body weights of broilers from two to six
weeks
Item Week2 Week3 Week4 Week5 Week6
Breed Cobb Ross 451.25±5.44b 483.11±5.02a 691.7±8.51b 756.67±8.23a 1061.82±14.16b 1204.71±13.72a 1454.64±21.6b 1761.73±20.71a 1784.86±27.56b 2172.89±25.25a
Moringa (%) M(2%) M(3%) Control 474.35±6.87 470.97±5.96 461.14±7.1 733.56±10.42a 702.11±9.57b 736.89±9.82a 1128.69±17.4ab 1099.96±15.85b 1171.15±16.45a 1600.6±26.39 1592.59±24.39 1631.37±24.76 1921.19±33.4 1990.86±31.1 2024.56±29.96
Breed*Moringa (%) M(2%) Cobb M(3%) Control 445±8.93 463.62±5.7 444.52±11.78 692.13±16.13 671.57±13.37 711.41±13.63 1059.13±26.71c 997.53±22.58c 1128.79±22.55b 1440.74±39.92bc 1389.17±35.69c 1534.01±34.2b 1709.86±51.8c 1741.74±44.7c 1902.99±43.52b
Ross M(2%) M(3%) Control 497.83±7.86 477.42±9.98 475.86±7.71 774.99±13.69 732.65±13.92 762.38±14.34 1198.25±23.03a 1202.38±22.65a 1213.5±24.26a 1760.46±35.49a 1796.01±33.93a 1728.73±36.25a 2132.53±43.86a 2239.99±43.79a 2146.14±41.52a
Means within the same column under the same category carry different superscripts are significant (P<0.05)
There is no significant difference in the final body weight of different groups fed diets supplemented with different levels of Moringa oleifera leaves (2%, 3% and 0%). These results are in agreement with Onunkwo and George, (2015) who found that there was no significant difference (P >0.05) in growth performance parameter in broiler chickens when fed graded levels (0%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10%) of Moringa oleifera leaves meal for seven weeks (49 days. There is no significant difference in feed intake between different experimental groups. Chicken fed with diets containing Moringa oleifera leaves at level 3% showed significant increase in FCR at age 28 and 45 day when compared with those fed basal diets. But those of group fed diets supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaves at level 2% showed insignificant difference in FCR when compared with the control group all over experimental period (P<0.05).
These results are agree with those of Nkukwanaa et al. (2014) who found that no significant differences were observed in feed intake between treatments during periods from 0 to 35 d, FCR was the highest (P<0.05) in birds supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal. However FCR1 from 2-3 weeks was lower on Ross breed than Cobb breed which mean higher weight gain acquired with feed intake in Ross breed however, the opposite occurred with FCR4 from 5-6 weeks where Cobb breed recorded significantly (P<0.05) lower FCR than Ross breed (table 3) which ensures our previous interpretation about the
prolonged time required until the adaptation of Cobb breed to the new environmental conditions. Ross breed recorded significantly higher (P<0.05) feed intake than Cobb breed all over the experiment (table 4). Similar results were obtained with Rashid et al. (2012) who recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake and feed conversion ratio for Ross breed compared with Cobb one.
From our results we may be to conclude that Ross breed adapted more rapidly on new environmental condition than Cobb breed. Regard to water intake it was found that chicken which fed on diets supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal drink significantly (P<0.05) more water than the control group table 4. This may be due to leaf meals are generally bitter in taste (Onunkwo and George, 2015), so, the inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaves in the diets could have resulted in increase water intake to overcome the bitter taste of the broiler diets.
Table 5 showed the impact of Moringa oleifera leaf meal at different levels (2, 3 and 0%) on carcass characters and dressing percentage. There were no significant differences in dressing percentage and other carcass characteristics of different experimental groups (table 5).
Table 3. Effect of breed, Moringa supplementation and their interactions on weight gain and feed conversion ratios of broilers from two to six weeks
Items WG1 WG2 WG3 WG4 FCR1 FCR2 FCR3 FCR4
Breed Cobb 234.58±8.5 5b 385.13±12.69b 479.03±20.25b 392.07±15.07b 2.87±0.15a 2.19±0.07 2.01±0.08 1.63±0.1b
Ross 293.13±9.38a 500.17±14.23a 615.65±19.73a 452.77±14.85a 2.3±0.17b 2.23±0.07 2.05±0.08 2.21±0.09a
Moringa(%) M(2%) 270.33±11.62 445±17.51 526.16±24.44 407.68±19.64 2.57±0.21 2.08±0.09b 2.21±0.1 1.9±0.13ab
M(3%) 243.11±10.81 417.72±16.41 556.4±25.36 417.68±18.12 2.7±0.19 2.39±0.09a 1.95±0.1 2.14±0.11a
Control 278.13±10.52 465.24±15.56 559.46±23.62 441.90±17.12 2.47±0.19 2.15±0.08b 1.94±0.09 1.73±0.11b
Breed*Moringa(%) M(2%) 233.75±16.63 390±22.92 440.24±34.96 329.54±27.78c 3.02±0.30 2.1±0.12 2.21±0.14 1.72±0.19
Cobb M(3%) 208.97±13.81 348.4±22.46 479.47±36.75 440.00±26.60ab 3.04±0.25 2.35±0.12 1.97±0.15 1.8±0.16
Control 261.03±13.81 417±20.5 517.39±33.4 406.66±23.79b 2.53±0.25 2.12±0.11 1.86±0.13 1.37±0.16
M(2%) 306.9±16.23 500±26.47 612.09±34.16 485.82±27.78a 2.13±0.29 2.07±0.14 2.2±0.14 2.08±0.19
Ross M(3%) 277.3±16.63 487.1±23.94 633.33±34.96 395.36±24.63bc 2.35±0.3 2.44±0.12 1.93±0.14 2.48±0.15
Control 295.23±15.86 513.5±23.42 601.52±33.4 477.14±24.63a 2.41±0.28 2.19±0.12 2.01±0.13 2.08±0.14
Means within the same column under the same category carry different subscript are significant (P<0.05); WG1= weight gain from 2-3weeks; WG2= weight gain from 3-4weeks; WG3= weight gain from 4-5weeks and WG4= weight gain from 5-6weeks. FCR1=feed conversion from 2-3weeks; FCR2=feed conversion from 3-4weeks; FCR3=feed conversion from4-5weeks and FCR4=feed conversion from 5-6weeks
Table 4. Effect of breed, Moringa, week and their interactions on weekly feed intake, water intake and mortality of broilers during two to six weeks_
Level Feed/bird/week Water/bird/week Mortality (%)
Breed
Cobb 714.17±45.1b 1386.67±123.82b 1.5±0.4a
Ross 973.33±63.75a 1981.67±155.42a 0.33±0.19b
Treatment
Moringa (2%) 825±94.79 1843.75±212.85a 1.13±0.48
Moringa (3%) 876.25±77.9 1716.25±183.31a 0.88±0.44
Control 830±79.31 1492.5±207.53b 0.75±0.41
Week
Week3 600±22.36a 1031.67±73.73c 0±0b
Week4 918.33±66.2b 1788.33±149.56b 0.33±0.28b
Week5 1043.33±73.29a 2156.67±184.84a 1.67±0.56a
Week6 813.33±94.15c 1760±222.38b 1.67±0.49a
Moringa * Breed
Moringa(2%) Cobb Ross 672.5±81.07 977.5±140.91 1555±197.08 2132.5±342.04 1.5±0.87 0.75±0.48
Moringa(3%) Cobb Ross 772.5±74.2 980±125.03 1512.5±238.24 1920±269.04 1.75±0.63 0±0
Control Cobb 697.5±92.14 1092.5±171.68 1.25±0.75
Ross 962.5±95.69 1892.5±254.64 0.25±0.25
Week * Breed
Week3 Cobb Ross 556.67±6.67 643.33±24.04 900±97.13f 1163.33±20.28ef 0±0 0±0
Week4 Cobb Ross 776.67±23.33 1060±36.06 1480±116.76d 2096.67±56.08bc 0.67±0.67 0±0
Week5 Cobb 893.33±14.53 1830±167.03c 2.67±0.33
Ross 1193.33±64.38 2483.33±190.29a 0.67±0.67
Week6 Cobb Ross 630±100 996.67±26.67 1336.67±253de 2183.33±63.6b 2.67±0.33 0.67±0.33
Means within the same column under the same category carry different subscript are significant (P<0.05); Feed/bird/week= feed intake per bird per week; Water/bird/week= water intake per bird per week
Table 5. Effect of breed, Moringa supplementation, and their interactions on carcass weight, dressing, thigh, breast and shoulder weights traits of broilers at 42 days_
Item Carcass Weight Dressing (%) Thigh Breast Shoulder
Breed
Cobb 1348.06±54.89b 0.76±0.007 311.89±24.38 269.44±17.33b 76.11±3.2
Ross 1561.11±51.15a 0.74±0.004 365.44±15.59 319.44±21.27a 87.22±4.26
Moringa (%) M(2%) 1440.83±108.98 0.76±0.009 338.17±24.77 304.17±39.25 83.33±6.28
M(3%) 1396.25±60.51 0.75±0.009 320±21.17 275.83±17.48 80±6.06
Control 1526.67±54.99 0.75±0.006 357.50±23.57 303.33±15.2 81.67±3.07
Breed*Moringa (%) M(2%) 1221.67±25.87 0.77±0.018 286.67±3.33 233.33±13.33c 73.33±3.33
Cobb M(3%) 1307.5±86.64 0.77±0.007 290±15.28 245±20.21c 73.33±7.26
Control 1515±72.34 0.75±0.012 385.66±25.66 330±15.28ab 81.67±6.01
M(2%) 1660±103.32 0.76±0.004 389.67±20.09 375±50.08a 93.33±9.28
Ross M(3%) 1485±54.08 0.73±0.008 350±33.29 306.67±13.02abc 86.67±9.28
Control 1538.33±98.76 0.74±0.003 356.67±30.87 276.67±14.53bc 81.67±3.33
Means within the same column under the same category carry different subscript oleifera 3% are significant (P<0.05); M(2%)= moringa oleifera 2%; M(3%)= moringa
Table 6. Effect of breed, Moringa supplementation, and their interactions on internal organs weight of broilers at 42 days
Item Gizzard Abdominal fat Intestine Liver Heart
Breed Cobb Ross 30.56±1.45b 35.33±1.29a 24.67±5.02 19.89±1.61 88.11±5.87b 107.56±4.64a 38.11±1.4b 49.67±3.23a 8.89±0.59 10.33±0.55
Moringa (%) M(2%) M(3%) Control 33±2.5 33.67±1.31 32.17±2.07 26±7.4 18.33±2.01 22.5±2.32 91.33±8.69 93.83±6.3 108.33±6.51 45.17±4.78 39.83±2.36 46.67±4.01 9.17±1.14 9.83±0.65 9.83±0.31
Breed*Moringa (%) M(2%) Cobb M(3%) Control 29±1.73 31.67±1.76 31±4.16 35.67±13.38 18.33±4.41 20±3.51 73.33±4.41 87.67±10.11 103.33±8.21 36.67±1.45 36±3 41.67±1.67 7.33±0.33 9.33±1.33 10±0.58
Ross M(2%) M(3%) Control 37±3.51 35.67±1.2 33.33±1.67 16.33±1.2 18.33±0.88 25±2.89 109.33±5.81 100±7.64 113.33±10.93 53.67±6.33 43.67±2.03 51.67±7.26 11±1.73 10.33±0.33 9.67±0.33
Means within the same column under the same category carry different subscript are significant (P<0.05); M(2%)= moringa oleifera 2%; M(3%)= moringa oleifera 3%
Table 7. Newcastle disease virus HI titers for the collected blood samples from both breeds (Cobb 500 and Ross 308) at 42 days of age
Geometric mean (GM) of HI titers (Log 2)
Cobb Ross
Moringa (2%) Moringa (3%) Control 3.2 3.6 2.9 3.5 4 3
Table 8. Lactobacillus Count of intestinal samples from both breeds (Cobb 500 and Ross 308) at 42 days of age
Lactobacillus count
Cobb Ross
Moringa (2%) Moringa (3%) Control 3 X 105 25 x105 4 x104 8 x106 1 x107 3 x104
Regarding the breed effect, Ross 308 showed significant increase (P<0.05) in carcass weight and breast muscle weight compared to Cobb 500 (table 4) which may be attributed to higher final body weight of Ross than Cobb breed. Moreover, gizzard, liver and intestine weights were significantly (P<0.05) higher with Ross compared to Cobb breed this may be resulted from significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake of Ross than Cobb breed which increased gizzard, intestine and liver weights.
The effect of Moringa oleifera on immune response, indicated that Ross 308 breed showed an increased immunity against NDV than Cobb 500 breed (table 6) and these data were a confirmation to Eze et al. (2013) who
reported that Moringa oleifera extract increased ND HI titer in the vaccinated and un-vaccinated chicken groups with NDV vaccines.
The observed data indicated the better weight gain and FCR in Ross 308 chickens as it has a significant increase in Lactobacillus count inducing better feed digestion, absorption, increased digestive enzymes as well as reducing the bad effect of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract. Also, Yang et al. (2007) indicated the positive effect of Moringa oleifera (3% dried leaves) on enhancement of duodenum traits, increased concentrations of total globulin, y-globulin and IgA, lymphocyte ratio, reduced E. coli and increased Lactobacillus counts in
ileum improving the whole immune responses and improved intestinal health of broilers which helped in increasing the production of digestive secretions and nutrient absorption, reduced pathogenic stress in the gut, exert antioxidant properties and reinforce the animal's immune status, which help to explain the enhanced performance in poultry.
CONCLUSION
Ross breed responded better to dietary Moringa supplementation than Cobb. Also, Ross breed achieved significantly higher (P<0.05) body weight, weight gain, feed intake, FCR, carcass weight and breast muscle weight compared to Cobb breed. Ross 308 breed showed an increase in HI titer against NDV than Cobb 500 breed.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. REFERENCES
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