Moringa stenopetala leaf as an alternative protein source to soybean meal in laying hens' nutrition: Assessing its...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of substituting soybean meal (SBM) with Moringa stenopetala leaf (MSL) on egg production and egg quality in hens from 21 to 41 wk of age. Diets were formulated to contain MSL at a rate of 0 (MSL0), 3 (MSL3), 8 (MSL8), and 13% (MSL13) by replacing SBM. Each of the four treatments was assigned to four replicate pens with ten hens each. Hen-housed egg production (HHEP), daily egg mass (DEM), and feed conversion ratio (FCR, g feed/g DEM) were computed. Egg quality traits were determined at 25, 29, 33, 37, and 41 wk. Replacement of SBM with MSL increased (P < 0.05) HHEP, DEM, and ADFI. The HHEP for MSL8 and MSL13 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of MSL0 and MSL3. The highest DEM was observed in MSL8 and MSL13 and differed (P < 0.05) from MSL3 and MSL0. A linear effect was found for HHEP, DEM, and ADFI (P < 0.001). A significant interaction of age by dietary level was detected for shell thickness and internal egg qualities. At 25, 33, and 41 wk, shell thicknesses of MSL3, MSL8, and MSL13 groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control. Egg length, breadth and shell weight increased from wk 25 to 41 (P < 0.05). At 41 wk, albumen height and Haugh unit (HU) were higher (P < 0.05) in MSL3, MSL8, and MSL13 groups compared to MSL0. At 33 and 37 wk, yolk height was higher (P < 0.01) for MSL13 than others. Yolk index was greater (P < 0.01) for MSL13 than other groups at 33, 37, and 41 wks. The deepest yolk colour was observed in MSL13 group, followed by MSL8 and MSL3 across ages (P < 0.001). From wk 25 to 41, albumen height, HU, yolk height, and index decreased (P < 0.05). Yolk height, index, and colour linearly increased across substitution levels (P < 0.001). In conclusion, replacing SBM with MSL positively influenced egg production and quality, and MSL can be included in layer hen diets.