Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder in diets on feed digestibility and external egg quality characteristics in laying hens

The present study was designed to investigate the influence of Moringa oleifera leaf powder on feed digestibility and egg quality characteristics of laying hens up to 32 weeks old. One hundred and twenty 32 weeks of healthy laying hens with homogeneous body weight in a complete randomized design with four treatments and 6 replications. Laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: M0: basal diets without administration of Moringa oleifera leaves, M1: basal diets with 2% Moringa oleifera leaves; M2: basal diets with Moringa oleifera leaves 4%; and M3: basal diets with 6% Moringa oleifera leaves, repectively. Each treatment consisted of six replication cages with 5 hens randomly assigned to each cages. This study showed that administration of 4-6% the Moringa leaves powder were increased dry matter and organic matter digestibility, yolk and egg shell percentages, and shell thickness (P< 0.05), but not the albumen of eggs (P>0.05). The administration of 2-6% Moringa leaves powder in diets results in higher (P< 0.05) yolk colour of eggs. It was concluded that supplementation of 4-6% % Moringa leaves powder in diets, increased feed digestibility and external egg qualities of laying hens up to 32 weeks old.