Volume 12, Issue 25, January - June 2026

Efficacy of moringa oleifera leaf extract as a phytogenic additive in finisher broiler chickens

Essen Paulinus Ogbonnaya^1,3,4♦, Njoku Godwin Nnamdi^2,3, Iwere Junior Izebere³, Ewa Daniel Ogbonnia³, Essen Joshua Ifeanyi³, Okoro Damian Chukwunyerem³, Onya Godswill Uzoma³, Ewa Ukie Emmanuel⁴, Adjei-Mensah Benjamin^1,5

¹Regional Centre of Excellence in Avian Science, University of Lomé, PMB 1515, Lomé, Togo
²College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, No. 15 Shangxiadian Road, Cangshan District, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China.
³Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, PMB 7008, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Science, College of Animal Science and Animal Production, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267, Abia State, Nigeria
⁵Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana PMB LG 25, Legon-Accra, Ghana

^♦Corresponding author
Essen, Paulinus Ogbonnaya, Regional Centre of Excellence in Avian Science, University of Lomé, PMB 1515, Lomé, Togo

ABSTRACT

Plant and leaf extracts are commonly used in animal production to enhance health and performance. Moringa oleifera leaves are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds with great potential as a broiler feed additive. This study evaluated the effects of varying levels of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) on the physiological parameters of finisher broiler chickens. We randomly distributed a total of 120 unsexed, four-week-old Anak broiler chickens into 4 treatment groups of 3 replicates in a completely randomized design, with 30 birds per group. Each group (T1, T2, T3, and T4) received MOLE at different graded levels of 0ml, 20ml, 40ml, and 60ml in drinking water, respectively. We repeated the treatments at 3-day intervals. Feed and water were served ad libitum. The study lasted for 28 days. The results showed that weight gains were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T4(60ml), and had the best feed conversion ratio. MOLE significantly increased (P<0.05) carcass characteristics parameters, with T4(60ml) outperforming the other groups. Blood analysis showed significant differences (P<0.05) in most parameters and values remained within normal ranges for healthy broilers. We did not observe significant differences (P>0.05) in economic parameters. However, the T4(60ml) group gave better sales revenue and gross margin performance. In conclusion, the broiler chickens took the test ingredient satisfactorily without any adverse effects on their health. Growth performance (weight gains and feed conversion ratio), carcass traits (dressed weight, dressing percentage and drumstick), and economic viability (cost/kg weight gain, cost of production, revenue and gross margin) improved at inclusion level up to 60 mL/L in drinking water. These findings support its potential as a sustainable feed additive in poultry production.

Keywords: Finisher broiler chickens / Growth promoter / Leaf extract / Moringa oleifera / Phytogenic additive

Discovery Agriculture, 2026, 12, e14da3219

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Published: 30 May 2026