Moringa oleifera (Lamarck) seed is a novel feedstuff that can be incorporated into poultry nutrition and a potential cheaper alternative than the current conventional feedstuff in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to determine the effect Moringa oleifera seed meal (MOSM) on the relationship between body weight and body morphometric parameters of local and exotic chickens. The total sum of one hundred and ninety two chickens comprising of ninety six Nigerian Ecotype local chickens and Marshall broiler chickens in four dietary treatments with three replicates (of eight birds per replicate for each genotype of chicken) per treatment. Four experimental diets containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 % MOSM were used. Data were analyzed using the Pearson Correlation model. The study showed that the association between morphometric parameters and body weights decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing levels of MOSM (r decreased from 0.72 to 0.52) however all the associations were positive which signified that the inclusion of MOSM influenced the level of relationship between body weight and body morphometric parameters. This study concluded that 5% dietary inclusion of MOSM would improve growth performance in YENLC and Marshall broiler chickens.

Chemical composition of Moringa oleifera seeds obtained from the middle belt of Nigeria, Benue State, was determined and the seed was blended to form a seed meal. The Moringa oleifera Seed Meal, MOSM was included in diets at graded levels of 2.50, 5.00 and 7.50% and the dietary performance of the broiler chicks on the test diets was compared with that of a corn-soy reference diet. Results on the chemical/nutritional composition of MOSM showed that the full-fat seeds contained (%) on proximate basis, reasonable concentration of 90.38 dry matter, 25.37 crude protein, 14.16 crude fat, 4.03 mineral matter, 30.64 crude fiber, 25.80 soluble carbohydrate and 5.79 kcal/g gross energy. Analyses also gave appreciable quantities of the water and fat soluble vitamins, macro -and micro-minerals. Feeding chicks with the seed meal at graded levels in diets resulted in decrease in feed intake and body weight gain as the inclusion level increased in diets relative to the conventional diet (p < 0.05). Reduction in feed consumption could be attributed to the full-fat nature of the seed meal used which might have imparted extra-caloric effect in the test diets and slowed digestion and absorption as the analyzed nutrients content of diets. A higher ether extract value on Moringa based diets relative to the control diet was obtained. Phytochemical composition of Moringa namely phenols including tannins, saponins, phytate, cyanogenic glucoside, glucosinolates and other numerous chemical constituents affected the body weight of the chicks negatively with increasing dietary MOSM. Decrease in weight gain following increase in dietary seed meal could also be due to decrease in feed intake as a result of the bitter taste of alkaloids, saponins, acting in concert with the other Moringa phytotoxins in test diets. Survival rate (100%) was not affected indicating that the level of highest inclusion in this study (7.50%) was not fatal to the experimental animal models. Further research is progressing to ascertain the highest inclusion level possible to elicit fatality and attempts to detoxify or treat the seed meal before feeding to animals.

This study examined the profitability and economic feasibility of a leaf-based Moringa production and processing under a plantation system in the Nigerian guinea savannah using the University of Ilorin Moringa Plantation as a case study. To achieve this objective, data on production and processing cost and revenue for the 2011/2012 planting season were collected and a simulated 10-year production and cost and revenue scenarios were scheduled based on the assumption of a constant cost and cash inflow over the same period. The cost-benefit was reported using the Return on Investment (ROI), Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and the Net Present Value (NPV) analyses. Result indicated an estimated average net profit of N827,109 (USD5, 137) ha/annum from a Total production cost of N1,371,360 (USD8, 580) ha/annum and a gross revenue of N2,200,000.00 (USD13,750) ha/annum derived from the sale of an average of 110kg of processed dry leaf powder output. This indicates the relative profitability of the enterprise. Furthermore, at varying discount rates of 17.5%, 20%, 22.5%, and 25%, the BCR indicated that for every N1 invested in cost, the investor could realize N1.60 in returns, the ROI indicate a profit return turnover of 26.7% of the cost of investment and a NPV estimate at the end of the 10-year period considered the project to be financially worthwhile. Based on these findings, this study recommends the encouragement of Moringa production and value addition development due to the potential it portends for income generation.

ABSTRACT

(-0.16, -4.33, -9.15 and -67.74% respectively). Positive but low heterosis was obtained for BWF (0.76), and EW (11.28) and WG, FEf, EN, ASM,) in the DBXFE cross bred. The mean performance of the FEXDB showed positive heterosis ranging from 1.08 to 100% in WG, FI, BWF, EW, EN, HDP and M during the laying period, while negative heterosis;

The effects of incorporation of Moringa leaf fibre (a by-product of leaf processing which contains 24% Crude Fibre by dry weight at 0, 5 and 10 % substitution of wheat flour in cookies was investigated. Three products containing wheat flour: Moringa leaf fibre ratios of 100:0, 95:5, and 90:10 respectively were prepared, and a commercial cookie was used as a standard. Proximate composition of each of the products was determined and sensory evaluation of the cookies was performed on a 7-point hedonic scale (with the standard commercial cookie as control) using a 20man sensory panel. There was no significant (P< 0.05) difference in the dry matter content of the four samples. The 10% Moringa leaf fibre cookie blend had the highest moisture, fat and crude fibre content (0.57 % CF, relative to 0.44 and 0.54% CF observed in the 0:100 and 5:95 recipes respectively), while the commercial cookie had the lowest values for these parameters (0.36% CF) but with highest value for protein. The 100% wheat flour cookie ranked best in sensory evaluation, followed by the 5% fibre substituted cookie. All the cookies were acceptable; scoring above 4 on the 7-point hedonic scale. Addition of moringa leaf waste up to 10 % in cookies is feasible, though better at 5%. Cookies with Moringa leaf by-product have the advantage of being good sources of some of the daily requirements of dietary fibre.

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