Relative effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal and molasses as additives in grain sorghum based diets on performance of growing chicks in Tanzania

摘要

TheeffectsofsupplementingMoringaoleiferaleafmeal(MOLM)andmolassestograinsorghumbaseddietsonperformanceofgrowingchickswasstudiedina2x3factorialdesignfor8weeks.Thestudyusedtwograinsorghumvarieties:high(HTS)andlow(LTS)tannin;threesupplementarystrategiesofnon-supplemented,nbsp;10%DM-molassesand10%DM-MOLMtomakesixdiets,CTL1,SCM2.,MOL1andCTL2,SCM2andMOL2respectively.Survival,colourofbodyparts,growthparametersandfeedconversionratiowerenotinfluencedbytypeofsorghum.nbsp;TheDMIwashigherinHTSandlegabnormalityincidence(LAI)washigherinLTS.Survivalandgrowthparameterswerenotinfluencedbytypeofsupplementation.Thesupplementationofmolassesaggravated,whilesupplementationofMOLMprevented,occurrenceofLAI.ThebirdsfedmolassesshowedpalenessbutthosefedMOLMshowedyellowingofbodyparts.nbsp;TheDMIandFCRwerebetterinbirdsfedCTL1comparedwithfedCTL2baseddiets.SupplementationofmolassesandMOLMimprovedDMIandFCRinHTScomparedwithLTS.HTSbaseddietsingrowingchicksshouldbesupplementedwithenergysources,mineralsandpigments;whileLTSbaseddietsshouldbesupplementedwithmineralsandpigments.SugarcanemolassesimprovesFCRinHTSbutrequiressupplementationofmineralsandpigments.UseofmolassesasanadditivetoLTSbasedcouldimpairFCRandaggravateLAIandisnotrecommended.TheuseofMOLMinHTSandLTSbaseddietscanimproveFCRandpreventprevalenceofLAIandhasthepotentialtoproducecolouredproducts.