Evaluation of Growth Performance and Economic Efficiency of Immature Lohmann Brown Layers Fed Graded Levels of Undeshelled Defatted Moringa oleifera Seed Cake

In a 22-weeks experiment, the impact and economic efficiency of feeding undeshelled defatted Moringa oleifera seed cake (UDMOSC) to Lohmann Brown layer chicks and pullets were investigated. The study had two phases, focusing on chicks (0-8 weeks) and pullets (9-22 weeks). A total of 150-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 15% with Burgazyme inclusion), each replicated three times, and each replicate containing ten (10) birds in a completely randomised design. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the GenStat statistical package (2008). In the initial phase, chicks fed dietary UDMOSC consumed less feed but had similar (p ˃ 0.05) final body weight compared to the control group. Chicks fed the control, and 5% UDMOSC gained more weight with better feed conversion. Chicks fed 10% UDMOSC had higher mortality. In the second phase, pullets fed the control diet and 15% UDMOSC with the enzyme (UDMOSC15E) showed significantly higher (p = 0.01) feed intake. Final body weight and body weight gain were notably higher (p = 0.001) in pullets fed the control diet. Feed conversion ratio and mortality rate did not significantly differ (P ˃ 0.05) among treatments. Dietary UDMOSC reduced feed cost per kilogram of body weight gain for starters and pullets. While dietary UDMOSC did not significantly affect starter growth, it lowered total feed cost per bird for starters and pullets except for UDMOSC15E, accruing 20.54 – 27.81%. and 25.39 – 40.19% percentage profit range, respectively. Dietary UDMOSC depressed the growth of starters and pullets, but it was economically advantageous by reducing the cost per kilogram of body weight gain for both groups. The negative impact of dietary UDMOSC on the growth of starters and pullets suggests that including UDMOSC in the immature layer diets should be cautiously approached for economic gain and, therefore, recommended for the pullet stage at an inclusion level not exceeding 10%.