Abstract
The study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder additive on the growth of layers, egg production and nutritive value of eggs. Specifically, the study sought to determine among others the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder fortified feeds and control feed on the growth of layers, effects of different inclusion rates of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the growth of layers, effects of Moringa oleifera leaf powder fortified feeds and control feed on the egg production of layers and effects of different inclusion rates of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on the egg production of layers. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in the Agricultural Education poultry farm located in the Department of Animal Science mini-livestock farms. The population for the study consisted of 252 Isa Brown day-old chicks and 25 students of Agricultural Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 240 chicks which were also randomly allotted to 12 pens and 12 students of Agricultural Education participated in the study. Weighing scale, spectophotometer and psycho-productive multiple choice test (PMCT) were used to collect data to answer research questions and test null hypotheses. On the procedure of the experiment, 240 chicks were randomly selected from 252 Isa Brown day-old chicks bought from day-old chicks distribution centre in Nsukka urban area. The chicks were equally randomly allotted to 12 pens with 20 chicks each. The pens were randomly assigned to 4 different treatment groups with 3 replicates each. The 4 treatment groups were Treatment (T) 1, Treatment (T) 2, Treatment (T) 3 and Treatment (T) 4. T1 was fed with control feed, T2 was fed with feed fortified with 2.5% Moringa oleifera leaf powder, T3 was fed with feed fortified with 5% Moringa oleifera leaf powder while T4 was fed with feed fortified with 7.5% Moringa oleifera leaf powder. Each of these 4 treatment groups had 3 replicates representing T1A, T1B, T1C, T2A, T2B, T2C, T3A, T3B, T3C, T4A, T4B and T4C. The chicks were fed with uniform feed up to week 4. From week 5, experimental feeds were given. The layers were placed on the same treatment conditions such as provision of heat during brooding, provision of clean drinking water, vaccination, deworming, treatment of diseases, regular changing of litters, among others except different experimental feeds given to different groups. The feeds were formulated using feedwin software and produced in Chidera Feed Mill located at Onuiyi, Nsukka. Data on the average weight, average weight gain, average feed intake and average egg weight were collected using weighing scale. Nutritive values of eggs were 32 determined by the Central Research and Diagnostic Laboratory located in Ilorin, Nigeria using proximate analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) methods. Similarly, the extent which students who participated in the study acquired skills in feed formulation and layer production was determined using PMCT developed by the researcher. Data collected were analyzed using mean, bar charts and pie charts to answer research questions while Analysis of Variance and t-test were used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance and at appropriate degrees of freedom. Test of significance between means was done using Sceffe Test. A null hypothesis was accepted when the probability value was greater than 0.05 at the appropriate degrees of freedom and rejected when otherwise. The average weights of all the treatment groups were equal from week 1 to week 4. Little variation in average weight started in week 5 with T2 topping the groups. However, there was no significant difference in the average weight of layers fed with Moringa oleifera leaf powder fortified feeds and those fed with control feed. The layers fed with control feed consumed the highest amount of feed in most of the weeks under study. It was recommended among others that farmers should include Moringa oleifera leaf powder at the rate of 2.5% to improve the weight of layers and should not include Moringa oleifera leaf powder in layer feeds during egg production period
