Studies on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Heamatological Characteristics of Broiler Chickens Fed Different Levels of Azolla - Moringa Oleifera Mixture

This study was conducted to examine the growth performance, nutrient utilization and haematological characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Azolla-Moringa Oleifera mixture. One hundred and sixty (160) Arbo-acre day old chick of mixed sex was divided into four groups with four replicates, each of ten birds in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was fed basal diet without Azolla –Moringa mixture (MLMAZP), treatment 2, 3 and 4 were fed basal diets supplemented with MLMAZP at levels 5, 10 and 15% respectively. Proximate analysis shows that Azolla powder contained 22.51% crude protein, 3.53% ether extracts, 14.13% ash, 18.15% crude fibre and 37.88% nitrogen free extract while Moringa Oleifera leaf meal contained 27.51% crude protein, 2.23% ether extracts, 7.13% ash, 19.25% crude fibre and 43.88% nitrogen free extracts. The basal diet was formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of broilers according to NRC (1994). The results shows that there was a significant (P0.05) were observed for feed intake and some of the hematological parameters measured (PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC). No mortality was recorded throughout the experimental period which lasted for 42 days. It can be concluded based on data from performance, nutrient utilization and hematological parameters that MLMAZP can be added up to 15% in the diets of broiler chickens