Vol. 10, Issue 1, Part D (2026)

Poultry production efficiently meets the rising global demand for animal protein but increasing feed costs and restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters have driven interest in natural feed additives. Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP), rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, has emerged as a promising alternative. This study evaluated the effects of different dietary levels of MOLP on growth performance, feed efficiency, livability and economic returns in broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted at the Poultry Research Station, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, KU, Anand, using 160-day-old broiler chicks allotted to five treatments: T₁ (0% MOLP), T₂ (0.5%), T₃ (1%), T₄ (1.5%) and T₅ (2%), with four replicates of eight birds each. The 42-day feeding trial included starter, grower and finisher phases, with iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous diets formulated as per BIS (2024). Data were analyzed using a completely randomized design. Total feed cost per bird did not differ significantly among treatments. However, feed cost per kilogram live weight was significantly lower in T₃, T₄ and T₅ compared to the control. Return over feed cost (ROFC) per bird and per kilogram live weight was highest in the 1.5% MOLP group (T₄), showing improvements of 42.7% and 26.4%, respectively, over the control. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of 1.5% Moringa oleifera leaf powder enhanced profitability in broiler chickens.