Evaluation of Moringa oleifera leaf meal inclusion in cassava chip based diets fed to laying birds

T S Olugbemi, S K Mutayoba* and F P Lekule*

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, P.M.B. 1044, Zaria, Nigeria
* Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania
tsolugbemi@abu.edu.ng

Summary

The feasibility of using Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) as an ingredient in cassava chip based diets fed to commercial egg strain chickens and its effects on their production and egg quality were investigated.  Eighty laying birds comprising of ten birds per replicate and two replicates per treatment were assigned to four isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments.  The diets comprised of Cassava Chips (CC) and MOLM combinations (CC0M0 - 0%CC, 0%MOLM; CC20M0 - 20%CC, 0%MOLM; CC20M5 - 20%CC, 5%MOLM; CC20M10 - 20%CC, 10%MOLM) in addition to other ingredients.  A completely randomized design was employed.

Feed intake, feed conversion ratio and laying percentage were not influenced by the inclusion of MOLM.  The lowest egg weight was from the maize based group (CC0M0).  Feed cost per kilogram and feed cost per kilogram egg produced declined with inclusion of MOLM.   Albumen and yolk percentages were not influenced by the inclusion of MOLM.  Eggs from birds on the 10% MOLM diets differed in Roche colour score (7.79) from those on the other diets. General acceptability of the cooked eggs was highest from the 10% MOLM group. 

Results of the study indicate that cassava chips can be fed whole to laying birds and the inclusion of MOLM at levels up to 10% in cassava chip based diets fed to commercial egg laying birds is possible and without negative effects in terms of egg quality parameters.  The benefits of enhanced acceptability are equally an advantage of its inclusion.

Keywords: Acceptability, alternative feed ingredients, egg quality, production

Introduction

Maize has traditionally been the ingredient of choice for the supply of energy in monogastric animal diets with inclusion levels from 50-70% (PAN 1995).  The need to discover or re-discover other potential energy sources have been prompted by the competition between animals and humans coupled with the attendant low production resulting in an attendant increase in feed costs. One of such potential crops is cassava (Manihot esculentus) however, limitations to its use in animal feeds amongst others are its relatively low quantity and quality of protein in addition to dustiness.  In order to surmount some of these challenges, inclusion of synthetic amino acids, supplementing with richer protein sources and utilization of cassava in other forms apart from meal have often being advocated.  A natural source of protein with great potential and good source of vitamins and minerals is Moringa oleifera (Mathew et al 2001).  The scarcity of information on the utilization of cassava chips by layers and a dearth of information on the utilization and effects of Moringa in layers diets especially in combination with non conventional energy sources such as cassava prompted this study with the view of evaluating the feasibility and effects of MOLM inclusion in cassava chip based commercial layers diets on egg quality and consumer acceptability of the resulting product. 

Materials and methods 

Experimental diets

Moringa oleifera leaves were harvested from an orchard within the premises of the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania and spread out on a floor to dry under shady conditions before milling in a hammer mill to produce the leaf meal (figure 1).  The cassava chips used were obtained from farmers in the Kibaha region of Tanzania (figure 2). 

Figure 1.  Moringa oleifera leaf meal	Figure 2.  Cassava chips

The experimental treatments comprised of four isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental layer diets with varied proportions of cassava chips (CC) and Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) in addition to other feed ingredients as shown in table 1. 

Proximate composition of ingredients was determined according to AOAC 1990 methods.  The proximate composition of MOLM and cassava chips is shown in table 2.

Management/feeding of birds

Eighty (80) layers aged 65 weeks old were randomly allocated to one of four treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD).  Each treatment comprised of 2 replicates with 10 birds per replicate.  Feed and water were provided ad libitum and the birds were placed on the experimental diets for an adjustment period of two weeks before data taking commenced. 

Egg quality parameters

The length and width of each egg produced per pen were measured using a vernier caliper on a daily basis for a period of one week with fortnight repetitions in order to calculate the shape index as outlined by North (1990).  Four randomly selected eggs per replicate were carefully broken to determine egg component weights and yolk colour score (using a 15 grade Roche fan) every four weeks. 

Sensory evaluation

Sensory evaluation was carried out using a five scale hedonic test.  Eight unspiced boiled eggs per treatment were served to 30 panelists. Their assessment of each parameter for a particular sample was indicated by ticking the appropriate box on the provided sheet.

Statistical analysis

Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data using Statistical Analysis System (1993).  Least significant differences were used to separate significant treatment means.

Results and discussion 

Production parameters

The effect of dietary treatments on production parameters are shown in table 3. 

Dietary treatments showed no significant (P>0.05) effect on feed intake.  This is in contrast to observations made by Osei et al 1990 and Bhatnagar et al 1996 when other leafmeals such as Leucaena leucocephala were fed to chickens.  This might probably be due to the age of the birds used in this study. 

This result also suggests that the addition of MOLM at levels up to 10% even in combination with CC at 20% does not negatively affect the feed intake.  Similar observations were made by Kakengi et al (2007). The lower concentrations of anti-nutritional factors in Moringa oleifera as reported by Makkar and Becker (1997) compared to some other leaf meals fed to layers could be a contributory factor.   

The egg weights observed in this study (61.9 – 63.6 g) were within the range for layers in this phase of lay (Tewe and Bokanga 2001; Salami and Odunsi 2003 and Esonu et al 2004). Average egg weights obtained from CC20M0, CC20M5 and CC20M10 which were all cassava based did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from one another however, they were higher (P<0.05) than the control (CC0M0) which was maize based and agree with the findings of Lekule et al (2006) that eggs produced from cassava based diets at levels up to 20% compare favourably well with those on maize based diets.  The inclusion of MOLM up to 10% did not impair the egg size and is supported by the report of Kakengi et al (2007).  The slightly higher (P<0.05) egg weights of CC20M0, CC20M5 and CC20M10 are probably due to the relatively higher feed intake.  Nutritional components required for egg formation is obtained from the feed eaten hence a variation in feed intake would consequently affect the egg size (Etches 1996).  Larger eggs also contain more calories and require more energy to produce them hence larger feed consumption (North 1990).    

Feed conversion ratios across treatments were not different (P>0.05) though CC0M0 had the highest value due to the relatively higher feed intake.   Consumption of large amounts of feed without a corresponding large egg weight suggests improper utilisation of the feed.  This is in line with Esonu et al (2004) report on Microdesmis puberula leaf meal but contrasts that of Bhatnagar et al (1996) who fed Leucaena leaf meal.  Highest laying percentage of 68.38% was recorded from CC20M0 probably due to the feed intake and high digestibility of the starch in cassava (Therdchai and Mikled 2001).  Lekule et al (2006) also reported higher laying percentages from birds on cassava based diets compared to the maize based diets.  The decline in laying percentage with the inclusion of MOLM though insignificant (P>0.05) tends to suggest that increasing levels of MOLM might have a negative effect on laying percentage probably due to reduced utilisation capacity of the feed as a result of low digestibility of crude fibre, protein and increased bulk.  Inclusion levels however up to 10% can be tolerated.  The low laying percentage of CC20M10 group inspite of the increased feed intake is also probably due to the inability to effectively utilize the feed.  The similarities (P>0.05) in laying percentage observed between birds on all treatments inclusive of MOLM is supported by the findings of Kakengi et al (2007).

Egg parameters

The effects of dietary treatments on egg parameters are shown in table 4.

There were insignificant differences (P>0.05) between dietary treatments for yolk and albumen percentages however shell percentage was influenced significantly with the cassava based diets producing eggs with higher (P<0.05) shell percentages than the control with the highest being from the 10% MOLM diet.  The higher digestibility of cassava starch over maize (Therdchai and Mikled 2001) and Moringa inclusion at 10% while not impairing the utilization of Ca or P seems to have enhanced its deposition.  Shell thickness followed a similar pattern as the shell percentage.  The cassava based diets produced eggs with better (P<0.05) shell index than the control hence reflecting better shape and inclusion of MOLM did not negatively affect this.

Significantly (P<0.05) highest roche colour score of 7.79 was observed in eggs obtained from 10% MOLM diet.  The colour score of eggs from MOLM  included diets indicate the improved yolk colouration due to its rich xanthophyl content.  This is in agreement with the report of Kaijage (2003). 

Consumers preference for eggs obtained from birds on the MOLM treatments  with respect to taste, aroma and general acceptability were significantly (P<0.05) higher than other groups with 10% MOLM being superior (P<0.05) in  colour.  These results agree with the report of Kaijage (2003) on consumer preference. While the possibility of a desirable aroma being introduced into the yolks by the addition of MOLM cannot be ruled out, it is however very likely that the egg yolk colour might have also unconsciously influenced other factors. Egg yolk colour is a very important factor in consumer satisfaction with a preference for golden yellow to orange (Hasin et al 2006) and food colours have an influence on human appetite for food and judgment of its quality (Amerine et al 1995).  The distinct preference for eggs produced from birds on MOLM diets indicates its viability as a yolk colouring agent which enhances the marketability of eggs. 

Conclusion 

• MOLM can be safely included in cassava based diets fed to layers and its inclusion in cassava based layer diets up to 10% is possible without negatively affecting productivity.  

• The utilisation of cassava chips in its whole form is also feasible for inclusion in layer feeds as its utilization was not impaired. 

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) for providing funds to conduct this research.

References 

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Received 16 January 2010; Accepted 10 May 2010; Published 10 June 2010

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