A study was carried out to assess the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) inclusion in diets on the growth performance, blood profile and economic efficiency of layer chicks. Three hundred (300) one-day old layer chicks of ISA Brown breed were allocated to five dietary treatments and three replicates in a complete randomize design. Five different diets containing 0%, 3%, 6%, 9% and 12% MOLM were designated as treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Treatment 1 was the control diet. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance with the aid of SAS (2008). The results obtained showed that feed intake at the starter phase was lower (P<0.05) in the test diets. The final body weight, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio were better (P<0.05) in the test diets than the control at the starter phase. At the pullet phase feed intake was similar (P>0.05) among the dietary treatments. The final body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were better (P<0.05) in the test diets than the control. Apart from haemoglobin, the haematological characteristics measured namely red blood cells, white blood cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, platelets and MIDcells (monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and other precursor white cells) showed significant increased (P<0.05) responses in the test diets. Total serum protein, albumin level, cholesterol level and globulin showed significant increased (P<0.05) responses to the test diets. The mean cost of feed per kilogram and the mean cost of feed per kilogram gain of body weight decreased with increasing inclusion of MOLM. The study indicated that the inclusion of MOLM in the diet of layer chicks (from starter through pullet phase) had positive impact on growth and better economic efficiency in layer chicks.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary crude protein (CP) on growth and laying performance of indigenous Guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) in Ghana. A total of Sixty (60) grower pearl Guinea fowl made up of twelve (12) males and forty-eight (48) females were randomly selected and grouped into four made up of (4) females and one (1) male. The groups were each subjected to four experimental diets containing 16%, 18%, 20% and 22% crude protein (CP). A completely randomized design (CRD) was used for the experiment. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GenStat version 11.1 (2008). Least significant difference (LSD) at 5% was used to separate the means. The result showed that birds fed with diets containing 22% crude protein (CP) had the heaviest (P= .05) body weight and body weight gain and reached age at first egg earlier followed by birds fed with diets containing 18% CP, 20% CP and 16% CP respectively. Feed consumption increased with an increase in dietary crude protein. Body weight at first egg was highest (P= .05) among birds fed with diets containing 22% crude protein (CP) and lowest in 16% crude protein (CP). Birds fed with diets containing 20% and 22% crude protein (CP) had the highest (P= .05) hen-day and hen- house egg production, whiles 16% crude protein (CP) diet recorded the lowest. It was concluded that body weight, body weight gain and total feed intake of indigenous Guinea fowls increased with increasing dietary crude protein. It is recommended to farmers that, diets containing 22% crude protein (CP) is ideal for optimum productivity of indigenous Guinea fowls.