Supplementation of Moringa in Poultry Ration for Sustainable Poultry Production in India

Supplementation of Moringa in Poultry Ration for Sustainable Poultry Production in India

DR. RAVI SHUKLA,POULTRY CONSULTANT

The human population is increasing at a rapid rate and simultaneously the demand of animal protein is also increasing. Poultry is a good and cheap source of protein but in developing countries like India, the production cost becomes the major limitation in raising poultry. There is a need to switch to some non- traditional feed sources which will not only decreases the competition between human and poultry for protein requirement, but also decreases the production cost in poultry farming.
Moringa oleifera is one unique example of an alternative protein supplement for poultry. Besides a good nutrient composition, it has many other properties like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancerous, anti-cholesteroland immune enhancing properties. So, apart from reducing the production cost it can also help in reducing the public health hazards, which are caused by the use of various antimicrobialsin poultry feed. In this article the possible role of Moringa oleifera along with its benefits in poultry industries have been discussed.The global population is steadily increasing and is projected to include approximately 9.6 billion peoples by 2050. In addition, poultry production has increased during the last few years and in 2020 the OECD (FAO) was predicted to produce around 130 million tons of chicken meat to match the demand of a growing world population. Nowadays, the poultry industry is recognized as a fast growing component of the agricultural sector, which provides protein-rich food at affordable rates. However, this sector has drawn more attention towards environmental and food safety since animals including poultry gut microbes can be the source of bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter which can disseminate to humans or act as a pool for antibiotic resistance and transmission and therefore may pose a serious threat to public health (Kumar et al., 2018). These gut microbes compete with the host for energy and protein. In both the proximal and distal gut, microbes produce toxic metabolites (e.g., amino acid catabolites) and catabolize bile acids, which may depress growth and decrease fat digestibility of the birds, respectively (Gaskins et al., 2002). Due to drug resistance problems associated with antibiotic use and increasing consumers demand for antibiotic residue-free products, most researchers are looking for a natural alternatives (herbal feed additives) to antibiotic growth promoters. Moringa oleifera (drumstick) is one of the plants that can be used in the preparation of poultry feed. The plant in addition to being a good source of vitamins and amino acids, it has wide range of medicinal value including growth promotion and antimicrobial effect (Mbikay, 2012 and Moyo et al., 2011). Siddhuraju and Becker (2003) reported that moringa leaves have potential prebiotic effects and potentially antioxidant phytochemicals, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. Moringa oleifera leaf meal, widely available in many tropical countries, is also a good source of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics and carotenoids (Teixeira et al., 2014). Moringa oleifera leaves contained crude protein 27.51%, crude fiber 19.25%, crude fat 2.23%, ash 7.13%, moisture 76.53%, carbohydrates 43.88% and calorific value 1296 kJ/100g. The calcium and iron levels were 20.09 and 28.29 mg/100g (DM), respectively (Oduro et al., 2008). Additionally, Moringa oleifera leaves have high protein content (20-35% of DM) with high levels of all the essential amino acids (Foidl and Paul, 2008).

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%A8-moringa-drumstick-alternative-source-of-fodder-for-livestock-in-india/

Nutrients in Moringa oleifera

oleifera is rich in nutrient containing least anti-nutritional factors is used as an alternative to livestock feed. Nutritional evaluation of different parts of plant like leaves, seeds and stems of the plant demonstrate that they are abundant in protein, essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins and other bioactive compounds There are still scanty reports about the nutrient composition of roots of this plant. The nutrient content of different part of M. oleifera are summarized in the Table1.The leaves and seeds carry large amounts of essential minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids . Additionally, It is reported that M. oleifera leaves have about 16 to 19 amino acids, out of which 10 are classified under essential amino acids viz. threonine, tyrosine, methionine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine, lysine and tryptophan. M. oleifera leaves have been reported to be higher calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron contents. It has been observed that the amount of vitamins A, B, C and E in the M. oleifera leaf is also high  It has also been reported that other parts of the M. oleifera plant such as roots, stems, flowers and fruits contain a rich proximate, mineral, vitamins and fatty acids profile.

Nutritional Profile of Moringa

Leaves: Moringa leaves contain fiber, fat, protein and minerals (Ca, Mg, P, K, Cu, Fe, and S). Vitamins like vitamin A (Beta-carotene), vitamin B-complex, nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid are present in the moringa leaves. Various amino acids like Arg, His, Lys, Trp, Phe, Thr, Leu, Met, Ile, Val are also present in it. Moringa leaves can be effectively used to fulfill the dietary and nutritional requirements of poultry. Moringa leaves powder/meal can be mixed with other feed ingredients during the formulation of feed for poultry birds.

Pod: It is rich in fiber, lipids, non-structural carbohydrates, protein and ash. Fatty acids like oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and linolenic acid are also present.  Moringa seed or pod and leaf extract have the antimicrobial properties which inhibit the growth of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It has also the property of antioxidants which removes free radicals, activates antioxidant enzymes and inhibits oxidases, which results in better performance of birds.

Seed: It contains oleic acid (Ben oil), antibiotic called pterygospermin, and fatty acids like linoleic acid, linolenic acid, behenic acid, phytochemicals like tannins, saponin, phenolics, phytate, flavanoids, terpenoids and lectins. Apart from these, fats, fiber, proteins, minerals, vitamins like A, B, C and amino acids are present in moringa seeds.

Table 1. The nutrient compositions of leaves, leaf powder and pods.

Preparation of Moringa Meal for Supplementation in Poultry Feed

Methods for the preparation of Moringa leaf powder/meal:

(a) Fresh, green and undamaged mature moringa leaves should be plucked. Tender moringa leaves have more nutrients. The collected leaves must be dried at 55°C till the moisture content of leaves to be 10% or less.  After drying the leaves, it should be crushed to powder and sieved with 4 mm sieve/mesh.

(b)        Collect fresh green and undamaged mature moringa leaves.

Dry leaves in air for five days and leaves become brittle.

Ground it into fine particles using a simple hammer mill.

Effect of moringa leaf meal on the laying performance of hens:

Moringa leaf meal has readily available protein, which is convenient for monogastric animals, and also has the higher levels of methionine and other essential amino acids. The inclusion of Moringa leaf meal in poultry feed may vary but it can be supplemented up to 6% in the diet of growing chicks and upto 10% Moringa leaf meal to the laying hen diet. It can substitute for sunflower seed meal and increase feed intake.

Egg production percentage decreased with an increase of Moringa leaf meal level. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) (kg feed/kg egg) increased when Moringa leaf meal was added beyond the inclusion level of the laying hen diet. An addition of 5% Moringa leaf meal increased egg weight due to high content of methinine in M. oleifera leaf. There is an increase in feed intake and feed conversion ratio, and decrease in egg mass production, egg production percentage, and egg weight at a higher level of Moringa oleifera leaf meal are mainly due to low digestibility of energy and protein.

Effect of moringa seeds on the performance of broilers:-  Moringa oleifera undecorticated seed powder (MOUSP) supplementation @ 1% in the starter feed  having negative effects on weight gain, final live body weight, feed efficiency and dressing percentage. Therefore, use of MOUSP at an amount of 1% during the finisher period overcomes its deleterious effect during the starter period. Therefore, it is better to use this level during the finisher period only.

The dietary supplementation with Moringa leaf powder up to 5% in broiler chicken improves feed conversion ratio and decreases the mortality rate. This supplementation at low rate also increases feed intake. Moringa oleifera in broiler feed helps to ameliorate bird health condition and reduces death incidence. This can be due to the rich nutrient profile of Moringa oleifera leaves. Actually, Moringa plants have growth promoter, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Excessive amount of Moringa leaf meal in poultry feed produces adverse effects and these adverse effects of high levels of leaf meal in poultry feed can be a result of low digestibility of the protein. Replacing Enrofloxacin with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) reduces the cost of production of broilers.

Method of Moringa as Feed Supplementation in Poultry Feeding:

It is easier and the best method to incorporate the Moringa leaf in feed during the feed formulation for the poultry birds. Milling the leaf with the feed improves the digestibility, performance and growth of the birds. Moringa oleifera contains also some bioactive molecules which reduce the activity of pathogenic bacteria and also improves the digestibility of other foods. Moringa oleifera leaves are rich in minerals, vitamins and especially protein with eight essential amino acids. Thus, the improvement of chicken growth may be attributed to those essential nutrients contained in Moringa leaves. Moreover, the growth performance of chicks can be linked to the high digestibility of this leaf. Thus, birds fed with Moringa would have the beneficial effects of a reduced pH which inhibits pathogenic microflora growth in the digestive tract and improves gastric digestion.

Effect of various level of moringa leaf meal on the laying hen’s performance

Researches have been found to improve poultry production at a low feed cost by the application of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in poultry diet . Recent studies have reported that the addition of M. oleifera leaf powder in poultry diets increases the egg production as well as quality of eggs in poultry birds . It has been reported that the addition of 2.5 and 5% of M. oleifera leaf powder in layer birds diet increases the egg number per week, egg weight, egg width, egg surface, yolk height, yolk weight, albumen weight and yolk ratio as compared to the control diet [6] . Kakengi et al. reported that when 5% M. oleifera leaf powder was used as a replacement to sun-flower seed meal in layer diet, there was significant increase (P˂0.05) in egg weight. It has been found that when 5% level of M. oleifera leaf powder include in layer ration it significantly improved the yolk colour and protein absorption there was no harmful effects on the laying performance when compared to the control diet . Similarly, various studies reported that Moringa oleifera leaf meal could be acceptable up to 10% -15% in laying hen rations.

Effect of inclusion of moringa seed on laying hen’s performance

Inclusion level of 1, 3 and 5% M. oleifera whole seed meal in layer hens feed showed significantly enhanced egg yolk colour, but significantly decreased body weight, feed intake, the rate of egg laying, egg weight, and egg mass. Therefore its inclusion at these levels is undesirable.

Effect of inclusion moringa leaf meal on the performance of broilers

It has been reported that the broiler chickens fed M.oleifera leaf meal at the rate 1, 3 and 5% of DM intake showed significantly higher body weight gain, average daily gain and higher feed conversion ratio than control group  . David et al. (2012) reported to improve the growth performance and carcass yield of broilers when two levels [0.05% and 0.1%) of moringa leaf powder added in broiler rations. On the opposing, Makanjuola et al. (2014)  ; Onunkwo and George (2015)  did not report any significant differences in the body weight gain and feed intake of broiler chickens fed M. oleifera leaf meal as compare to control group when M. oleifera included at 200, 400 and 600 g respectively in 100 kg of feed. Paguia et al. (2014) , reported that the addition of moringa leaf powder on broiler diets did not significantly influence the broiler’s feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, final weight, feed cost per kg of broiler produced and income over feed and chick cost. These studies showed that M. oleifera leaf meal doesnot haveany harmful effects on growth performance and can be used as rich protein source in poultry diets.

Effect of inclusion of moringa seeds on the performance of broilers

To study its effect on performance and carcass characteristics included Moringa oleifera undecorticated seed powder in the broilers diet at the rate 0%, 0.37%, 0.75%,and 1.5%, They revealed that during the starter period (8–21 days), use of 1.5% Moringa oleifera undecorticated seed powder significantly (P<0.05) reduced weight gain, body weight, and feed efficiency. During finisher (22–35 days) and whole (8– 35 days) periods, supplementation of different levels (0.37%, 0.75%, and 1.5%) of oleifera undecorticated seed powder failed to produce a significant (P>0.05) effect on weight gain, final live body weight, feed efficiency, dressing percentage, and liver and heart weights  . Therefore, use of oleifera undecorticated seed powder at an amount of 1.5% during the finisher period controls its detrimental effect during the starter period. Therefore, it is beneficial to use this level during the finisher period only.

Chemical composition of broiler starter, broiler finisher and MOLM (%DM basis)

1. No. Chemical composition Broiler starter Broiler finisher MOLM
2. Dry matter 91.20 91.51 94.32
3. Crude protein 21.36 20.24 24.56
4. Ether extract 4.13 4.56 7.10
5. Crude fibre 3.70 3.70 7.82
6. Total ash 6.75 6.70 9.20
7. Nitrogen free extract 64.06 64.80 51.32
8. Acid insoluble ash 1.25 1.35 0.51
9. NDF 9.90 10.11 11.30
10. ADF 3.33 3.53 8.39
11. Calcium 1.16 0.88 1.58
12. Phosphorus 1.18 0.93 0.30
13. ME (Kcal/kg of feed) 2950 3100 –
14. E/P ratio 138.11:1 153.16:1 –

Chemical composition of Moringa Oleifera:
The plant is known as miracle tree, drumstick tree, ben oil tree and horseradish tree. It is also known as wealthy tree, because of being a rich resource of various nutrients with high biological values. Every part of the plant from root to tree is rich in nutrients and has beneficial properties. The leaves of the plant are the most preferred part. The metabolizable energy of the Moringa oleifera leaf meal is 8.51MJ/Kg.

Other properties:

• Plant is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, selenium, zinc, copper and vitamins such as vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol.
• Moringa oleifera leaves have calcium equivalent of 4 glasses of milk,3 times the iron of spinach, 4times the vitamin A in carrot,2 times the protein in milk. (Loren,2007)
• Protein quality and quantity are higher than many conventional protein supplements. It is rich in many essential amino acids such as lysine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, methionine, threonine and valine.
• Plant contains a rare and rich combination of zeatin, quercetin, b sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol.
• Heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium which are potential toxics are absent from leaves of the plant.

Different properties of moringa oleifera with their concerned bioactive compounds:
Antimicrobial Properties

• Due to the presence of lipophilic compounds and different metabolites such as carboxylic acid, 2,4-diacetyl phloroglucinol, benzyl thiocarboxamide and chitinases present in plant cell wall.
• Phenolics, polyphenols, terpenoids, essential oils, alkaloids, lectins have strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.

Antioxidant Properties

• Due to the presence of ascorbic acid, tocopherol , carotenoids, flavonoids, selenium, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, apigenin, astragalin, quercetin, kaempferol that confer neuroprotection by scavenging free radicals or activating cellular antioxidant system

Antiinflammatory Properties

• Due to the presence of quercetin, different glycosides, various isothiocyanates, kaempferol.

Hypocholestrolemic Functions

• β-sitosterol and 4-[α -(L-rhamnosyloxyl)benzyl]-o-methyl thiocarbamate exhibit cholestrol lowering activities.

Strenghten the Immune System

• Niaziridin, found in the plant improves the absorption of different vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients in the gastrointestinal tract of birds.
• A fair amount of copper present increases the gut health by decreasing the intestinal crypt depth.
• Plant also contain the ingredients which are able to neutralise toxic elements in feed.

Antitumour Formation

• The various antioxidants present in the plant activates pro-apoptotic protein such as caspases, TRAIL and inhibit activity of anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl2, IAPs.

Inclusion of Moringa Oleifera in diet of broilers:
To achieve rapid growth of broilers and a good profit the feed of broilers should contain a good energy source such as grains or their by-products; protein source such as soyabean meal, cakes and fish meal for their rapid growth; a good vitamin mixture, mineral mixture and salt to prevent any deficiency disease. Antibiotics and coccidiostats are also added in the feed.
As it is a well-known fact that the birds eat to meet their energy requirements, so it becomes important to adjust other nutrients in the feed accordingly, especially the calorie -protein ratio should be maintained.
Moringa oleifera can replace the protein sources up to 10% in broiler diets without any adverse effects on growth and carcass qualities. (Onunkwo and George, 2015)
The inclusion of Moringa oleifera in broiler diet has been proven to cause the following positive effects:

• It causes increased protein deposition on the muscle fibres which is evident by increased muscle fibre diameter and thus resulting into higher muscle weight and dressing %.
• Improved colour of the carcass because of carotenoids presents in the plant.
• Improved PUFA content in the carcass.
• Improved tibia bone parameters due to presence of phytoestrogens flavonoids by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts.
• Increased pH, increased water holding capacity of breast muscles.
  Promotes gut health through improved intestinal microarchitecture and cellular count.

Inclusion of Moringa Oleifera in diet of layers:
The ingredients used in layer feed are more or less similar to broiler feed except that layer feed also includes a rich source of calcium.
Moringa oleifera leaf meal can be included up to 10% in diet of layer without having any adverse effects on their performance. (Kakengi et al, 2007)
The inclusion of Moringa oleifera in diet of layers has been proven to cause following effects

• Improved egg yolk colour due to the presence of carotenoids present in the plants.
• Increased albumin height and Haugh unit during storage.
• It prevents the movement of water from albumin to yolk during storage there by maintaining the quality of egg for a longer period.
• Reduces the incidence of E. coli infections.
• Higher nutrient composition in egg yolk.

Conclusion:
Moringa oleifera can play an important role in poultry industry without having any adverse effect on poultry health. It can address the gut health changes in poultry and can be used as novel growth promoter. Besides all these, it represents a solution for antibiotic resistance at an affordable price. It can also address the problem of high production cost. In spite of all these advantages the use of Moringa oleiferain the poultry industry is not up to the mark. There is a need to explore more about the plant and comprehending its use in the poultry industry in the best way. And more importantly, animal nutritionists should indulge in awareness drive to propagate among the poultry feed manufacturers the use of moringa leaf as a good protein supplement in poultry feed, apart from its multifaceted added advantages to the animals.
References are available upon request

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6680523/

Please follow and like us: