Performance of exotic layer chicken fed on probiotics (bacillus coagulans) treated moringa (m. Oleifera) leaf meal-based diet

Abstract

Moringa oleifera leaf meal is a potential novel feedstuff that can be incorporated into poultry feeds. However, the lack of appropriate knowledge and antinutritive factors in MOLM limits its use in poultry production. This study evaluated the Egg production and quality of exotic layer chicken Fed on Probiotics (Bacillus coagulans)-Treated Moringa (M. oleifera) Leaf Meal-Based Diet. The objectives of this study were to determine the (i) In-vitro dry matter digestibility and condensed tannins content of probiotics-treated MOLM. (ii) Determination of performance and sensory properties of layer chicken fed on Probiotics (Bacillus Coagulans)-Treated MOLM.. (iii) Effect of probiotic-treated MOLM in exotic chicken diets on egg quality and consumer acceptability. Moringa oleifera leaf meal was treated through different fermentation methods, using Clostridium butyricum, Bacillus coagulans and spontaneous fermentation in three replicates. The finding of the study showed a significant difference in IVDMD. Fermentation with Bacillus coagulans had the highest invitro-digestibility compared to the rest, and the untreated meal had the lowest IVDMD. Fermentation with Clostridium butyricum resulted in a higher IVDMD% than spontaneous fermentation. There was a significant improvement in the CP content compared to the untreated. Tannins and phenol content were reduced with MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans. Thirty-six (36) sixteen, sixteen (16) week-old ISA Brown layers were distributed into 12 deep litter pens, each with three hens, and randomly allocated to four dietary treatments in a completely randomised design. Data analysis was conducted using the statistical analysis system's general linear model (GLM) approach. Tukey's test (p<0.05) was used to separate significant means. Results showed that birds fed on the diet with 20% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans recorded the highest average daily feed intake and highest Feed conversion ratio. The diet with 10% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans recorded the highest hen-day production. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the 0 and 10% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans diets on the average daily gain, Feed conversion ratio and egg weight. The diet with 20% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans recorded the Roche colour fan's most profound yolk colour value. The results showed that the 10% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans diet had higher shell weight, yolk weight, and yolk ratio, while the control group, 0% with MOLM, recorded better yolk width and yolk length. It was therefore concluded that including 10% MOLM treated with Bacillus coagulans layers (Isa-Brown) diet improved performance.