Resumo

FUENTES ESPARZA, Martha K. et al. Effect of Moringa oleifera intake on productive and toxicological parameters in broiler chickens. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.4, pp.1013-1026.  Epub 30-Abr-2020. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v10i4.4575.

Poultry farming is common in rural Mexico in part because it provides extra household income. Alternative protein sources for poultry feed are needed for these systems. An evaluation was done of how 10% inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf in diets for broilers affected productive and blood parameters. A proximal analysis, and Fe, Ca and tannins contents were quantified for moringa leaf flour. Four productive and six blood parameters (two proteins and four enzymes) were evaluated in Ross-308 broilers. Histopathological analyses were done of liver and kidney tissue. The moringa leaf flour contained 33.4% protein, and had high iron (19.7 mg/100 g) and calcium (2593.3 mg/100 g) contents, as well as low tannins content (24.4 mg CE/100 g). Compared to a control, daily weight gain decreased 12 % in the moringa leaf treatment while productivity index values decreased 20%. No differences were observed between the control and treatment in terms of protein content, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. However, differences in albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the glutamyl transpeptidase levels suggest possible liver and renal damage in the moringa leaf treatment. These results were not confirmed in the histological analysis. Further research is needed using lower moringa leaf flour inclusion levels to compare to the present results and better define possible inclusion levels in poultry diets.

Palavras-chave : Broilers; Moringa; Productivity; Serology; Histopathology.