¹Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, PAKISTAN
²Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, PAKISTAN
³Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of Punjab, Lahore, PAKISTAN
⁴Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, PAKISTAN DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2017.18616 This study was conducted to explore the effect of Moringa oleifera pods meal (MPM) on growth performance, blood metabolites, chemical composition, meat quality and immunity of broilers. For the purpose, two hundred (Hubbard classic) broiler birds having weight 40.4±3.02 g, were assigned to four treatments with five replicates and ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Starter and finisher diets were added with four levels (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of MPM) over and above. Results of this study showed that growth performance was improved as feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed intake (FI) were decreased with the increase in supplementation level (P≤0.05). Dressing percentage was lowered, whereas giblet weights were improved with the MPM supplementation levels (P≤0.05). β-carotene, Quercetin and Selenium content of breast meat was linearly increased resulting in higher values of di-phenyl picryl hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging and improved shelf life. Serum biochemical compounds like serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), Creatinine, Glucose and meat cholesterol level was significantly decreased and was recorded lowest in 1.5% MPM supplemented diet (P≤0.05). At the end of the trial it was concluded that Moringa pods may positively affect the growth and chemical composition of broiler meat. Keywords : Broiler, β-carotene, DPPH, Moringa pods, Quercetin, Selenium