Typescripe (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 / Four different South African indigenous (Naked Neck (NN), Ovambo (OVB), Venda (VD) and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) chicken breeds were used in this study. From each of the four breeds of chicken, 40 hens and 8 cocks were selected randomly. Two groups each of sixteen cocks were subsequently formed: high performing (HP) and low performing (LP) groups to determine the relationships between cock semen viability and the fertility of artificially inseminated South African indigenous layer breeds. Semen was collected following five minutes of sexual massage (5SM) and evaluated for semen volume (ml), sperm motility (%), live sperm (%) and total sperm (x109/ml). Semen from each cock was then used to inseminate five hens per breed, in each treatment. Each hen was inseminated twice a week throughout the duration of the trial. During the experimental period, each hen was inseminated with 0.05 ml diluted semen. The artificially inseminated hens were examined for average egg weight (g), fertility (%), hatchability of set eggs (%), live chicks (%), normal chicks (%) and chick weight (g). A total of 1600 eggs, i.e. 400 eggs from each breed were collected in three batches following artificial insemination from individually caged hens and were hatched to compare hatching parameters among breeds. The hatchability traits of hens of the four breeds (NN, OVB, PK and VD) were compared. Hatching egg weight had significant (P < 0.05) difference among the four breeds. The results of this study indicate that semen viability exemplified by ejaculate volume, sperm motility; live sperm and total sperm per ejaculate were significantly (P < 0.01) superior in the HP cocks compared to the LP cocks. Hens inseminated with semen from the HP cocks in each experimental group resulted in higher egg weight (g), fertility (%), hatchability of set eggs (%), live chicks (%), normal chicks (%) and chick weight (g). Significant positive relationships existed between semen volume and sperm motility (P < 0.05), semen volume and live sperm cells (P < 0.01), semen volume and total sperm (P < 0.01) in NN, OVB and VD, with negative correlations in PK. Some positive correlations were found between sperm motility and live spermatozoa (P < 0.01), sperm motility and total sperm (P < 0.01), live sperm and total sperm (P< 0.01) in NN, OVB, PK and VND. Fertility was the highest in the HP group. Fertility was also the highest in PK, intermediate and similar in OVB and NN and lowest in VD (P<0.05). Breed had a significant effect on hatchability of fertile eggs (P<0.05). Hatchability of total eggs set was highest in PK and NN, intermediate in OVB and lowest in VD (P<0.05). Breed had a significant effect on live, normal chicks and chick weight (P<0.05). Live chick was the highest in NN, whereas at day-old, normal chick and chick weight at hatching were the highest (23.50 ± 0.11) (P<0.05) in PK (98.14 ± 0.67 vs. 37.90 ± 0.28 g), intermediate and similar in NN (87.90 ± 0.63 vs. 23.50 ± 0.11) and OVB (87.75 ± 0.45 vs. 32.81 ± 0.49 g) and the lowest but with an acceptable value in VD (76.85 ± 0.46 vs. 26.90 ± 0.36 g). There were some correlations among different hatchability traits depending on breed. The correlations were more profound among PK. It was clear that chick weight as percent of egg weight was not just a function of egg weight, and that genotype also played an important role favouring the heavier breeds. The results obtained in this study on the relationships between cock semen viability and the fertility of artificially inseminated South African indigenous layer breeds elucidate that the use of high performing (HP) cocks following five minutes of sexual massage, prior to semen collection and artificial insemination of layers is a practical method for optimising sperm viability and subsequent fertility of hens. The results of this study suggest that the Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) cocks and hens are superior to the Naked Necks (NN), Ovambo (OVB) and Venda (VD). The Ovambo and Naked Neck cocks ranked second in donating quality semen as well as in improving the fertility and hatchability traits of the indigenous chicken breeds. Thus selection of high performing cocks through five minutes sexual massage prior to semen collection and use is recommended for poultry AI breeding programmes.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study quantified the growth performance, carcass and meat characteristics of South African slow-growing chicken lines. Two slow-growing lines developed outside South Africa, the Black Australorp and New-Hampshire, two native lines including the Naked-Neck and Potchefstroom Koekoek, as well as a hybrid between a Cobb 500 broiler and Potchefstroom Koekoek were evaluated. Fifty birds of each line were randomly allocated to cages of five birds per cage where they were fed a standard broiler diet ad libitum to an average weight of 2kg. Twenty cockerels of each line were then slaughtered for further analyses. For the carcass characteristics: live weight at slaughter, hot carcass weight, and chilled carcass weight were determined. Portion yields and dissection characteristics were measured, and the deboned meat from the breast, thigh and drumstick analysed for proximate analysis and fatty acids. Average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) were calculated and analyzed for line differences. No significant differences were observed between the indigenous lines with regards to feed intake ADG (~22g), FCR (~3.65), and EPEF (~57). The Hybrid outperformed the indigenous lines for all of the growth performance parameters measured. No differences were observed for dressing %. The breast yield obtained by the Hybrid was significantly higher (45.56%) than that of the indigenous lines which had similar breast yield values (~41%). The naked-Neck had the highest thigh yield and the lowest drumstick percentage yield, 27.7% and 17.3%, respectively. A similar pattern was observed for drumstick yield with the Australorp, New-Hampshire and Koekoek lines having significantly higher yields than those of the Hybrid. For the tissue characteristics, similar values were seen for breast skin (~20%), breast bone (~22%), drumstick skin (~4.3%), and drumstick muscle (~27%). The Hybrid had significantly higher breast muscle, thigh muscle, and total muscle percentage yield (22.67%, 26.17% and 43.51%, respectively). Proximate chemical composition of the breast samples did not differ (P>0.05) for any parameters. Differences (P<0.05) were recorded for thigh moisture, protein and ash content. The Naked-Neck recorded the lowest moisture (72.3%) and the highest protein (18.6%) and ash (1.1%) values. Differences were also recorded for drumstick moisture protein and fat. The highest moisture content was measured for the Hybrid (75.9%) and the lowest for the Naked-Neck (73.6%). The indigenous lines had higher protein content (~19.5%) when compared to the Hybrid (18.9%). The drumstick fat content for the Nakednecks (4.4%) was higher than the remaining lines. Differences were observed for the fatty acid profile. Total PUFA differed (P<0.05) with the Australorp (28.2%) showing the highest proportion. The relative contributions of total SFA, total MUFA and TUFA did not differ significantly between lines. The ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids, the proportion of n-6 fatty acids and the ratio of n-6/n-3 differed, higher values were recorded for the indigenous lines. The proportion of n-3 fatty acids did not differ. The Hybrid performed significantly better than the indigenous lines but did not reach the performance potential expected for commercial broilers. Despite this, the Hybrid does show potential for use in alternative practices that make use of slower growing lines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die groei-prestasie, karkas- en vleiskwaliteitseienskappe van Suid Afrikaanse inheemse hoenders gekwantifiseer. Vier plaaslike lyne, die Swart Ostralorp, New Hampshire, Kaalnek en Potchefstroomse Koekoek, sowel as ʼn kruising van die Koekoek henne met Cobb 500 braaikuikenhane is evalueer. Vyftig voëls van elke genotipe is ewekansig ingedeel in hokke met vyf voëls per hok. ʼn Standaard braaikuiken dieet is gevoer totdat die gemiddelde massa van die kuikens 2kg bereik het. Daarna is 20 hane van elke genotipe geslag vir verdere analise. Vir karkaseienskappe is lewendige massa voor slag, warm karkasmassa en koue karkasmassa bepaal. Daarna is porsie opbrengs en disseksie eienskappe bepaal en, en die ontbeende vleis van die bors, dy en been is ontleed vir proksimale en vetsuur analises. Gemiddelde daaglikse toename (GDT), voeromsetverhouding (VOV), en Europese produksie effektiwiteits faktor (EPEF) is vir die verskillende genotipes bereken en getoets vir verskille. Geen betekenisvolle verskille is waargeneem vir inname, GDT (~22g), VOV (~3.65), en EPEF (~57) nie. Die kruisras het in alle gevalle beter produksieparameters gelewer as die plaaslike lyne. Geen verskille is opgemerk vir uitslagpersentasie nie. Die borsopbrengs van die kruisras was betekenisvol hoër (45.66%) as die van die plaaslike lyne (~41%). Die Kaalnek het die hoogste dyopbrengs (27.7%) en die laagste beenopbrengs (17.3%) gelewer. ʼn Soortgelyke patroon is waargeneem vir die beenopbrengs van Australorp, New-Hampshire en Koekoek met betekenisvol hoër opbrengste as dié van die kruisras. Weefsel eienskappe het dieselfde opbrengs gelewe vir die plaaslike lyne met borsvel (~20%), borsbeen (~22%), beenvel (~4.3%) en beenspier (~27%). Die kruisras het betekenisvol meer borsvleis, dyspier en totale spierpersentasie gelewer as al die ander genotipes (onderskeidelik 22.67%, 26.17% en 43.51%). Proksimale analise van die borsmonsters het geen verskille (P>0.05) gelewer vir enige van die parameters wat bepaal is nie. Verskille is opgemerk vir die vog-, proteïen- en asinhoud van die dyspier. Die Kaalnek het die laagste voginhoud (72,3%) en die hoogste proteïen- (18.6%) en as-inhoud (1.1%) gehad. Verskille is ook opgemerk vir been vog-, proteïen- en vetinhoud. Die hoogste voginhoud is gemeet in die kruisras (75.9%) en die laagste in die Kaalnek (73.6%). Die plaaslike lyne het ʼn hoër proteïeninhoud (~19.5%) as die kruisras (18.9%) gehad. Die vetinhoud van die beenspier was ook die hoogste vir die Kaalnek (4.4%). Verskille is waargeneem vir die vetsuurprofiele van vleis. Die PUFA het verskil, met die hoogste persentasie waargeneem vir die Australorp (28.2%). Die verhoudelike bydrae van die totale SFA, totale MUFA en TUFA het nie betekenisvol tussen genotipes verskil nie. Die verhouding van n-3 vetsure het ook nie verskil nie. Die verhouding van die PUFA:SFA, die verhouding van n-6 vetsure en die verhouding van n-6/n-3 vetsure het verskil, met hoër waardes vir die plaaslike lyne. Die verhouding van n-3 vetsure het nie verskil nie. Die kruisras het oor die algemeen betekenisvol beter gevaar as die plaaslike lyne, maar het steeds nie die produksie potensiaal van die kommersiële braaikuiken bereik nie.

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Four experiments were carried out with laying hens to evaluate the effects of body weight, age, dietary protein, and tallow levels on performance, nutrient intake and energy utilization. In the first experiment, Single Comb White Leghorn birds were divided into four body weight groups at the onset of egg production. Voluntary feed intake was 18% less for the lightest (1.39 kg) in comparison with the heaviest group (1.83 kg). Egg weight was directly related to body weight with the heavy birds producing an average egg weighing 65.3 g and the lightest birds having an average egg weight of 58.9 g. Feed conversion was also significantly better for the lighter birds. Maintenance requirements for the heaviest and lightest birds were 60.5 and 57.9% of metabolizable energy consumed, respectively. Metabolizable energy intakes above maintenance were 131 kcal/d for the heavy birds and only 119 kcal for the light group. A composite regression analysis indicated a maintenance requirement of 127.7 kcal/d/kg('0(.)75) and an energetic efficiency of 75.2% for the conversion of metabolizable energy to net energy. In order to evaluate the effects of age and body weight on laying hen performance, the last three experiments were designed using old, molted, and young hens which were divided into the heaviest and lightest body weight groups. The old birds were 72 weeks old, the molted birds were 106 weeks old, and the young birds were 27 weeks old at the start of the studies. In each experiment the birds were fed ten experimental diets with 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20% dietary protein in combination of 1 and 4% supplemental fat. Egg output was increased with the supplementation of tallow in only the young birds; while energy retentions were improved in the old and molted birds with fat feeding. Average energy retentions per kg physiological body weight were 58.8, 41.7, and 38.6 kcal for the young, molted, and old hens, respectively. The light-bodied birds showed 9% better gross energetic efficiencies than the heavy-bodied birds. Estimated daily protein intake requirements were 16.8, 13.3, and 12.8 g/d to support production levels of 84, 64, and 66% for the young, old, and molted birds, respectively.

Thesis (PhD (Animal Sciences))--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the current South African chicken conservation programmes in conserving the genetic diversity of village chicken populations. Village chicken farmer’s production constraints such as feed availability, chicken mortality, prevalence of diseases and chicken sales were influenced by gender, age, wealth status, production system, chicken flock size, type of chicken breed owned, accessibility of veterinary services, availability of supplements, vaccines and shelter. Considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in qualitative traits of indigenous chicken populations and their distributions in different regions of South Africa revealed the absence of selection on a preferred phenotype, showing that the population is not standardized. Genetic diversity studies using both microsatellites and mtDNA markers demonstrated that the conservation flocks of South African chickens displayed considerable genetic variability that is different from that of the assumed founder populations (field chicken populations). The indigenous chicken mtDNA further revealed multiple maternal lineages in South African chickens, where conservation flocks and field chicken populations shared these major haplotypes A, D and E which are presumed to be of Chinese, South East Asia and Indian subcontinent origin, respectively. The overall findings of the study increased awareness of the importance of genetic management and utilization of indigenous chicken genetic resources of South Africa. As a result, the study provides a base-line dataset to complement the decision-making process on designing proper conservation strategies for South African indigenous chicken genetic resources. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige studie is onderneem om die doeltreffendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse hoenderbewarings programme in die bewaring van genetiese diversiteit in dorphoender bevolkings. Dorp hoenderboere se produksie beperkinge soos voerbeskikbaarheid, hoender mortaliteit, die voorkoms van siektes en hoenderverkope word beïnvloed deur geslag, ouderdom, rykdom status, produksie sisteem, hoender kudde grootte, tipe hoenderras, toegang tot veeartsenydienste, beskikbaarheid van supplemente, inentstowwe en skuiling. Merkbare fenotipiese variasie in kwalitatiewe eienskappe van die inheemse hoenderbevolking en hul verspreiding in verskillende areas van Suid-Afrika, is aanduidend dat daar nie seleksie plaasvind vir ‘n voorkeur fenotipe nie, wat dus toon dat die bevolking nie gestandardiseer is nie. Genetiese diversiteit studies met behulp van beide mikrosatelliete en mtDNA merkers het getoon dat die bewaringskuddes van Suid- Afrikaanse hoenders vertoon merkbare genetiese variasie wat verskil van die veronderstelde stigter bevolkings (veldhoender populasies). Die inheemse hoenders mtDNA het verder onthul dat verskeie moederlike afstammelinge in die Suid Afrikaanse hoenders, major haplotipes A, D, E wat afkomstig is vanaf die Chinese, Suid-Oos Asië en die Indiese subkontitent onderskeidelik; gedeel word saam met die bewaringskuddes en die veldhoender populasie. Die algemene bevindige van die studie verhoog die bewustheid van die belangrikheid van genetiese bestuur en benutting van inheemse hoender genetiese hulpbronne van Suid-Afrika. As gevolg hiervan, verskaf die studie ‘n basis-lyn datastel vir die besluitnemingproses oor die ontwerp van ‘n ordentlike bewaring strategieë vir die Suid-Afrikaanse inheemse hoender genetiese hulpbronne.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Poverty among communities is not a static condition. There are many factors which contribute to its causes and depth. In South Africa, the economic gaps imposed by the previous apartheid government aggravated economic inequalities and caused considerable disparities, which resulted in the high unemployment rates. This led to a call for pro-active initiatives by post 1994 democratic government to remedy the living condition of the previously disadvantaged people. As part of its poverty relief drive, the South African government has embarked on a series of developmental initiatives to bring services to the poor and to reduce enormous prevailing backlogs, with the aim of increasing community participation and improving the lives of the poor. This study evaluates the egg layers project as a poverty alleviation effort within Blouberg Municipality of the Limpopo Province to respond to the prevailing poverty and underdevelopment among the poor communities. This study revealed from the observations, interviews conducted and questionnaires administrated to sampled beneficiaries of Blouberg Municipality who faces poverty. The study formulated strategies and made recommendations regarding the impact and implementation of the egg layers on poor people.

Thesis (MA. Agric. (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Arbor acres broiler chickens aged one to six weeks. Experiment I determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity of Arbor acre broiler chicks aged one to 21 days. Two hundred unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with five replicates, each replicate having ten birds. A completely randomized design was used in the first experiment. The treatments were 0 (UA0), 20 (AU20), 50 (AU50), 75 (AU75) or 100 (AU100) g of carrot meal supplementation per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and productivity variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation, however, improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens. Dietary metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens were optimized at different carrot meal supplementation levels of 40.5 and 53.57 g/kg DM feed, respectively. No chicken deaths were recorded. Experiment II determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replicates, each having 10 birds, in a completely randomized design. The supplementation levels were 0 (FA0), 20 (FA20), 50 (FA50), 75 (FA75), or 100 (FA100) g of carrot meal per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and production variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and carcass parts of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged vi 22 to 42 days. Dietary feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary carrot meal supplementation levels of 52.8, 63.8, 38.0, 42.0 and 44.3 g/kg DM feed, respectively. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on tenderness and flavour of female Arbor acre broiler meat. Broiler chickens on diets supplemented with 20, 50 or 100 g of carrot meal per kg DM feed produced meat with better (P<0.05) juiciness values than those of meat from chickens not supplemented with dietary carrot meal and those supplemented with 75 g/kg DM feed. There was a positive relationship between carrot meal supplementation and chicken meat juiciness. It is concluded that carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. However, carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. However, carrot meal supplementation did not (P>0.05) improve growth rate and live weights of the chickens.

Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.

Thesis (MSC. Agriculture (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2014 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. The first experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Two hundred and fifty unsexed day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, replicated five times, and each replication having 10 chickens. A completely randomized design was used. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (M0), 5 (M5), 10 (M10), 15 (M15) and 20 (M20) g of moringa seed meal/bird/day. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, metabolisable energy intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and live weight of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens. Moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) growth rates of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. A moringa seed meal supplementation level of 13.3 g/kg DM feed optimized growth rate of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. The second experiment determined the effect of moringa seed meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens weighing 558 ± 10 g/bird were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replications having 10 birds. The chickens, aged 21 days, were allocated to the treatments in a completely randomized design. The chickens were fed on a grower diet supplemented with 0 (FM0), 5 (FM5), 10 (FM10), 15 (FM15) and 20 (FM20) g of moringa seed meal per kg DM. Moringa seed meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on feed intake, growth rate, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake, carcass weight, breast meat weight, abdominal fat pad weight, liver weight, heart weight, thigh weight, meat flavour, juiciness and tenderness of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. However, moringa seed meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens. vi It was concluded that moringa seed meal supplementation improved growth rate of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, moringa seed meal supplementation increased nitrogen retention and gizzard weights of female Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days.