Haematological Profile of Broiler Chickens Fed Varying Levels of Moringa oleifera Leaf Meal in Kano, North West Nigeria

The incorporation of plant-based feed additives into poultry diets has received growing research attention as a strategy to reduce dependence on synthetic supplements and mitigate antimicrobial resistance. This study evaluated the haematological responses of broiler chickens supplemented with graded levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% dietary inclusion in Kano, North West Nigeria. One hundred and twenty day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups of thirty birds each, maintained under uniform housing and management conditions for six weeks. Blood samples were collected at the terminal phase for haematological analysis including packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and differential leucocyte counts using standard veterinary laboratory procedures. Results revealed a significant dose-dependent improvement in red blood cell parameters at 4% inclusion, while leucocyte counts remained within physiological reference ranges across all groups, indicating no immunotoxic effect. Haemoglobin levels were significantly higher in supplemented groups compared to the control, suggesting enhanced erythropoiesis potentially mediated by the iron and folate content of Moringa leaf meal. Feed conversion ratios also improved with supplementation. This study concludes that Moringa oleifera leaf meal at moderate dietary levels positively modulates the haematological status of broiler chickens under tropical management conditions. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, haematology, broiler, feed additive, Kano.