Context Heat stress poses a major limit to poultry production. Moringa stenopetala leaf meal (MSL) could be a promising feed additive for poultry raised under heat stress, as it is rich in antioxidants. Aims To determine the effect of (MSL) supplementation on the production and quality of broilers under heat-stress conditions. Methods In the broiler performance trial, 156 1-day old Cobb 500 broilers were assigned to four groups, with each containing three replicates of 13 chicks. For the egg production trial, 108 Bovan Brown layers aged 20 weeks were allocated to four groups, with each containing three replicates of nine hens. The four groups of broiler and layer chicken were supplemented with MSL at a level of 0% (control), 1% (MSL1), 1.5% (MSL1.5) and 2% (MSL2). Relative humidity, and minimum and maximum temperatures were 82%, 13°C and 23°C respectively. The effects of MSL supplementation on growth performance, characteristics of digestive organs, carcass traits, egg production and egg quality were analysed with one-way ANOVA. Key results Moringa stenopetala-leaf supplementation at a level up to 2% (MSL2) did not significantly affect feed intake, weight gain or feed conversion ratio of the birds. Supplemented broilers had a significantly longer large intestine (24% for MSL1, 37% for MSL1.5 and 49% for MSL2) and a heavier pancreas (82% for MSL1, 67% for MSL1.5, and 57% for MSL2) than did the control broilers. Hot and cold carcass weights, dressing yield, dressing percentage, breast-meat weight, drumstick and thigh-meat weights, wing-meat weight, back weight and meat pH were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Ash content of meat of the MSL2-fed birds was significantly higher than that of the control birds (3.51% vs 2.74% respectively). Egg production, feed conversion ratio and interior and exterior egg-quality parameters were not significantly affected by MSL supplementation. Intensity of yolk colour was significantly and linearly enhanced due to MSL supplementation (by ~5–8 times compared with the control). Conclusions Supplementation with MSL at a level up to 2% improved yolk colour of Bovan Brown layer eggs, with no effect on meat and egg production. Implications Yolk colour of eggs of layers raised under heat stress can be improved by MSL supplementation at 1%, with there being a minimum increase in the diet cost.

中文翻译：

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在炎热潮湿的热带条件下添加辣木叶粉的肉鸡和蛋鸡的性能

背景 热应激是家禽生产的主要限制因素。辣木叶粉 (MSL) 可能是热应激下家禽的一种很有前途的饲料添加剂，因为它富含抗氧化剂。目的 确定（MSL）补充剂对热应激条件下肉鸡生产和质量的影响。方法 在肉鸡生产性能试验中，将 156 只 1 日龄 Cobb 500 肉鸡分为四组，每组包含 13 只小鸡的三个重复。对于产蛋试验，108 只 20 周龄的 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡被分配到四组，每组包含 9 只母鸡的三个重复。四组肉鸡和蛋鸡分别添加了0%（对照）、1%（MSL1）、1.5%（MSL1.5）和2%（MSL2）水平的MSL。相对湿度，最低和最高温度为 82%，分别为 13°C 和 23°C。采用单向方差分析分析了添加MSL对生长性能、消化器官特征、胴体性状、产蛋量和蛋品质的影响。主要结果 辣木叶添加量高达 2% (MSL2) 不会显着影响鸡只的采食量、增重或饲料转化率。添加了添加剂的肉鸡的大肠明显更长（MSL1 为 24%，MSL1.5 为 37%，MSL2 为 49%）和更重的胰腺（MSL1 为 82%，MSL1.5 为 67%，MSL2 为 57%）控制肉鸡。冷热屠体重量、屠宰率、屠宰率、胸肉重量、鸡腿肉和大腿肉重量、翅肉重量、背部重量和肉的 pH 值不受 MSL 补充的显着影响。饲喂 MSL2 的禽类肉的灰分含量显着高于对照禽类（分别为 3.51% 和 2.74%）。MSL 补充对产蛋量、饲料转化率和内部和外部鸡蛋质量参数没有显着影响。由于 MSL 补充，蛋黄颜色的强度显着线性增强（与对照相比增加了约 5-8 倍）。结论 添加最高 2% 的 MSL 可改善 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色，但对肉和蛋的产量没有影响。含义 在热应激下饲养的蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色可以通过添加 1% 的 MSL 来改善，同时饮食成本的增加最小。饲料转化率和内部和外部鸡蛋质量参数不受 MSL 补充的显着影响。由于 MSL 补充，蛋黄颜色的强度显着线性增强（与对照相比增加了约 5-8 倍）。结论 添加最高 2% 的 MSL 可改善 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色，但对肉和蛋的产量没有影响。含义 在热应激下饲养的蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色可以通过添加 1% 的 MSL 来改善，同时饮食成本的增加最小。饲料转化率和内部和外部鸡蛋质量参数不受 MSL 补充的显着影响。由于 MSL 补充，蛋黄颜色的强度显着线性增强（与对照相比增加了约 5-8 倍）。结论 添加最高 2% 的 MSL 可改善 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色，但对肉和蛋的产量没有影响。含义 在热应激下饲养的蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色可以通过添加 1% 的 MSL 来改善，同时饮食成本的增加最小。结论 添加最高 2% 的 MSL 可改善 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色，但对肉和蛋的产量没有影响。含义 在热应激下饲养的蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色可以通过添加 1% 的 MSL 来改善，同时饮食成本的增加最小。结论 添加最高 2% 的 MSL 可改善 Bovan Brown 蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色，但对肉和蛋的产量没有影响。含义 在热应激下饲养的蛋鸡的蛋黄颜色可以通过添加 1% 的 MSL 来改善，同时饮食成本的增加最小。