Abstract:
The study was planned to determine the comparative and combined efficacy of Moringa leaf
(Moringa oleifera) and Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) on the productive performance of
commercial broilers. A total of 120 day-old Lohmann Meat (Indian River) broiler chicks were
reared for 28 days at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Dhaka. Chicks were
divided randomly into 4 experimental groups of 3 replicates (10 chicks with each replication).
Among the four treatment groups, one group fed with basal diet as control (T
0
) and the other
groups with same diet supplemented by 2% Moringa leaf powder (T
1
), 1% Spirulina powder
(T
2
) & 1% Moringa leaf powder+0.5% Spirulina powder (T
3
) were treatment groups. Results
of the experiment showed that addition of Moringa leaf and Spirulina combinedly improved
broilers growth performance and the impact started from the third and fourth week of the
feeding trial. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was comparatively better (P>0.05) and dressing
percentage was increased (P<0.05) in birds fed diets supplemented with Spirulina and both
Moringa and Spirulina. Survivability was higher (non significantly, P>0.05) in combined (T
3
)
and MLP (T
1
) feeding group compared to other treated group T
0
and T
2
. The relative weight of
liver, heart, and intestine were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T
3
group than other group T
0
,
T
1
and T
2
. On the other hand, gizzard and spleen were non significantly higher (P>0.05) in T
3
group than other treated groups. In case of cost benefit analysis, net profit was highest in MLP
(T
1
) treated group than the other groups. The study therefore concluded that, combined
supplementation of Moringa leaf and Spirulina proved to be beneficial for increasing the
growth performance of broiler chickens. However, Moringa treated group is more cost
effective and profitable than other treated groups.
Description:
A Thesis
Submitted to Department of Animal Nutrition, Genetics and Breeding,
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS) IN ANIMAL NUTRITION
