EFFECT OF MORINGA AND HONEY SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SERUM METABOLITES OF BROILER CHICKEN

Z NISA; F BATOOL; A RAZA; S BATOOL; AM SHAH

doi:10.64013/bbasr.v2026i1.138

Authors

Z NISA Department of Zoology, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
F BATOOL Department of zoology Government College women University Faisalabad. Pakistan
A RAZA Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
S BATOOL Department of Zoology Government College women University Faisalabad. Pakistan
AM SHAH Department of Zoology, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64013/bbasr.v2026i1.138

Keywords:

broiler chicken, Moringa oleifera leaf meal, honey, growth performance, feed conversion ratio, serum metabolites

Abstract

Smallholder broiler production depends on costly commercial feed, while antibiotic growth promoters face mounting restrictions. Whether household-prepared Moringa oleifera leaf meal or honey improves growth performance and serum metabolites of broilers under backyard management, relative to an un-supplemented ration, remains unclear. This completely randomized, non-blinded 40-day trial allocated 30-day-old broiler chicks to three diets at a household poultry unit: un-supplemented commercial ration (control), ration plus Moringa oleifera leaf meal, or ration plus honey; ten birds per treatment, one cage each, inclusion rates fixed but unstated. The primary outcome was live body weight at days 1, 20, and 40. Mortality was recorded daily; serum metabolites were assayed on day 40. Two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test, α = 0.05. All 30 birds entered; one died (3.3%), leaving 29 records. Day-1 weight ranged from 37–40 g. Day-40 weight was 310 ± 0.003 g (control), 1020 ± 0.042 g (Moringa), 750 ± 0.022 g (honey); Moringa exceeded control by 710 g (95% CI 709.97–710.03), F(2,24) = 19.87, p = 0.015, partial η² = 0.623. Finisher feed conversion ratio was 38.70, 18.66, 19.32 (p = 0.055). Serum total protein (3.9, 5.1, 8.4 g/dL) was descriptive only. Moringa and honey supplementation were associated with higher day-40 body weight than the un-supplemented ration, with 3.3% mortality and no other adverse events. However, single-cage replication, no blinding, and descriptive-only serum analysis limit inference; replicated pen-level trials with defined dosing are needed.

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