Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part E (2023)

Author(s): CN Muremera, MK Ambula, AM King’ori, ED Ilatsia and KK Kabui

Abstract: Fertility and hatchability are vital economic traits in the poultry sector because they have a significant impact on chick output. The impact of substituting soybean meal in layers feed with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on fertility, hatchability, and chick quality of improved indigenous laying hens was investigated. Ninety hens and 18 cocks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments with three replications. MOLM was included in treatment rations: T₁ (0 percent MOLM, 0 percent enzyme), T₂ (0 percent MOLM, 0.035 percent), T₃ (20 percent MOLM, 0 percent enzyme) T₄ (20 percent MOLM, 0.035percent), T₅ (40 percent MOLM, 0 percent enzyme), T₆ (40 percent MOLM, 0.035 percent enzyme). Data on egg fertility and hatchability, chick quality, and embryonic mortality in viable eggs were also recorded during the period of incubation. The highest (p<0.05) hatchability was seen in the eggs from hens fed MOLM-based diets, while the lowest hatchability was seen in the eggs from hens fed control diet. Eggs from hens fed diets based on MOLM had considerably (p<0.05) higher fertility rates than those from the control group. High early embryonic mortality was observed in control diet and was statistically different (p>0.05) with the MOLM-based diets. Hens fed MOLM-based diets had significantly (p<0.05) lower mid embryonic mortality than the others. Mid embryonic mortality was high in control diet compared to the MOLM-based diets. There was no significance difference in the late embryonic death, pips and culls in the MOLM-based diets compared to control diet. Day-old chicks from hens fed MOLM-based diets were heavier than those from hens fed a control diet. When compared to the control diet, the length of the chicks on MOLM-based diets was not significantly different (p>0.05). Hens fed MOLM diets improved statistically (p<0.05) in terms of visual scoring which involved checking chicks that were free from deformities, clean and had bright eyes.