Effect of Probiotics and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf powder supplementation on growth performance in broiler chickens.
This study aimed to investigate effects of probiotic and M. oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) supplementation on growth performance broiler chickens. The most common probiotics that are used nowadays include bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The dried, ground leaves of M. oleifera contain crude proteins, lipids, ash, NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and ADF (acidic detergent fiber), carbohydrates, zinc, copper, manganese, calcium, iron, tannins,Vitamins A, C and E as well as their provitamins present in M. oleifera leaves are known to sequester free radicals and may have immune-protective effects. Additionally, the leaves are reported to contain high amounts of total phenols and are a good source of potassium and magnesium. In this study Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum will be used as probiotic strain as these strains were previously isolated from chicken in another study in our lab . Combination of M. oleifera and probiotic will increase the growth performance by improving the overall gut health of broiler chicken. It is hypothesized that combined probiotics and M. oleifera powder will promote the growth performance by influencing gut architectural integrity and gut-associated immune components.