Serum Biochemistry, Organ Weight, Carcass Characteristics, Organoleptic Properties and Villi Morphometry of Nera Black Cocks fed Varying Levels of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal

• Main Author: Taiwo Kayode Ojediran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Agroprint Timisoara 2017-11-01
• Series: Scientific Papers Animal Science and Biotechnologies
• Subjects: carcass; cocks; moringa; serum parameters; sensory properties.
• Online Access: http://spasb.ro/index.php/spasb/article/view/2393
• ISSN: 1841-9364; 2344-4576

A total number of sixty-four (28 weeks old) matured Nera black cocks were randomly allotted to 4 dietary groups. Diet T1 (control) had no Moringa Oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) inclusion while diets T2, T3 and T4 contained graded levels of MOLM at 10%, 20% and 30% replacement for soya bean meal (w/w) respectively  in a completely randomized design. All the serum biochemistry parameters evaluated differs significantly (P≤0.05) except albumin and cholesterol (P>0.05) among the dietary treatments. The weight of the kidney, heart, pancrease, proventriculus and spleen were influenced by the dietary treatments (P≤0.05). The weights of breast and empty gizzard increased (P≤0.05) linearly with MOLM inclusion while the wings, thigh and drum stick compared (P≤0.05) with those fed the control diet. The villi length and muscle thickness were significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by MOLM inclusion. The MOLM supplemented birds had longer villi than birds in the control group. The result of the this study showed that replacement of soybean meal with MOLM up to 30% inclusion in the diets of Nera black cocks was not detrimental to organ weights, carcass characteristics, sensory attributes and villi morphometrics. However, some serum parameters were adversely affected.