EFFECT OF FEEDING (Moringa oleifera) LEAF MEAL ON QUAIL PERFORMANCE UNDER NORTH SINAI CONDITIONS

Authors

1 Dept. Anim. and Poult. Prod., Fac. Environ. Agric. Sci., Arish Univ., Egypt.

2 Dept. Anim. Prod., Fac. Agric., Suez Canal Univ., Ismailia, Egypt.

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the farm of the Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the growth performance and blood biochemical parameters of growing quails. A total of 180 seven days, unsexed quail chicks were randomly divided into four experimental groups. Each group was further subdivided into 3 replicates, 15 chicks per each. Four levels of MOLM (0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) were used during the experimental period from 7 to 42 day of age. The results showed that final body weight and body weight gain were increased significantly (P<0.05) at the 0.2% level of MOLM; also, feed intake had the same trend, however, there is no significant effect on feed conversion values among treatments. The levels of MOLM significantly increased dressing percentage, head, liver, heart, gizzard and total edible parts weight except 0.6% level of MOLM. Blood globulin and albumin increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing the level of MOLM. Total protein was not affected by inclusion of MOLM in quail diets. Plasma cholesterol had lower level in all treatments compared to control. In addition, HDL fraction was increased, while LDL decreased significantly in all treatments compared to control group. However, Plasma AST and ALT decreased at all levels of MOLM compared to control group.It could be concluded that addition of Moringaoleifera meal leaves up to 0.2% improved growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of the quail chicks.

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