The Relationship between Feed Conversion Ratio, Feed Intake and Body Weight Gain of Broilers fed Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplemented Feed Following Challenged with Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus

The relationship between weekly feed conversion ratios (WFCR), weekly feed intake (WFI) and weekly body weight gain (WBWG) of broilers fed Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) supplemented feed and challenged with a very virulent infectious bursal disease virus was assessed. Two hundred and forty day-old Ross 308 hybrid broiler chicks were randomly assigned into groups A, B, C and D of 60 chicks each and raised in deep litter type housing. Broiler starter (BS) and broiler finisher (BF) mash were formulated each with 5% MOL included as part of the feed ingredient for broilers in groups A and B while BS and BF for broilers in groups C and D were formulated without MOL. Broilers in groups A, B and C were challenged intraocularly at 35 days of age with 0.05 ml of a live vvIBDV while those in group D served as control. Weekly feed intake (WFI), weekly body weight gain (WBWG) and weekly feed conversion ratio (WFCR) were correlated for each group. Broilers in groups A, C and D showed a strong negative significant correlation (r = 0.9999, p = 0.0001) between WFCR and WFI, and between WBWG and WFCR, and a strong positive significant correlation (r = 1.0000, p = 0.0001) between WBWG and WFI from week 1 to 7. While broilers in group B only showed a strong negative significant correlation (r = 0.9999, p = 0.0001) between WFCR and WFI from week 1 to 7. Moringa oleifera leaf supplemented diet lowers the FCR of broilers in group B during infection with IBD virus which consequently increases their body weight gain.