Moringa oleifera and Allium sativum in broiler nutrition: carcass traits, biochemical characterization, and economic analysis

To ensure the productivity and economic viability of broiler chicken, this study was designed to determine the impact of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) and Allium sativum bulb powder (ABP) utilization on carcass trait, biochemical characterization and economic value of broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty (n = 240), 8-day-old (Cobb 500) broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 5 treatments with 4 replicates (12 birds/replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The birds were randomly allotted into five groups: T1: diet without MLP and ABP, T2: diet with MLP replaced soybean meal (SBM) at 1%, T3: diet with MLP replaced SBM at 3%, T4: diet with MLP replaced SBM at 1% + 0.1% ABP and T5: diet with MLP replaced SBM at 3% + 0.3% ABP respectively. Each formulated diet was fed ad libitum from the 2nd to 8th week of age. Tannins, phenols, saponins, flavonoids, and reducing sugar were present in MLP and ABP. The percentage dressed weight on the 27th day in T2 and T3 were (P < 0.05) higher than in T1, but comparable (P > 0.05) to those in T4 and T5. On the 56th day, the breast weight in T5 was (P < 0.05) higher than in T1 and the rest of the treatments. Most of the microbes that were mainly identified from the ceca of birds fed dietary treatments were Staphylococcus species, and Streptococcus species. Production cost was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in T3 (₦1, 843.76) than in T1 (₦1, 905.86) and the rest of the treatments. Therefore, it is economically wise to feed broiler chicken with MLP and ABP, but most economical when a fed diet with MLP replaces SBM at 1% and a diet with MLP replaces SBM at 3%.