Effect of feeding fermented mixture of cassava pulp and Moringa oleifera leaf meal on immune responses, antioxidative status, biochemistry indices, and intestinal ecology of broilers

AIM: The study investigated the effect of feeding fermented mixture of cassava pulp and Moringa oleifera leaf meal (FCPMO) on the immune responses, antioxidative status, biochemical parameters, and intestinal ecology of broiler chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred Lohmann broiler chickens were distributed to four groups of diets including CONT (corn-soybean-based feed with no additive), BACI (corn-soybean-based diet supplemented with 0.1% zinc bacitracin), FERM (diet containing 20% FCPMO), and FERB (diet containing 20% FCPMO and added with 0.1% Bacillus subtilis). At days 4, 14, and 19, the chicks were vaccinated using commercial Newcastle disease-infectious bursal disease (ND-IBD), IBD, and ND vaccines, respectively. At day 35, blood was sampled and digesta was obtained from the ileum and caecum. Furthermore, the duodenal segment was obtained. RESULTS: The BACI, FERM, and FERB groups had higher (p<0.05) serum superoxide dismutase activity than control. The malondialdehyde was lower (p=0.07) in BACI, FERM, and FERB than that in CONT. The BACI and FERM had lower (p<0.05) leukocytes and lymphocytes than CONT. The hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and hematocrit were lower (p<0.05) in BACI and FERM than those in CONT and FERB. Serum total triglyceride was lower (p<0.05) in FERM and FERB than that in CONT. The FERM and FERB had higher (p<0.05) albumin levels. Serum globulin level was lower (p<0.05) in FERB than that in BACI, but did not differ from that in CONT and FERM. The numbers of coliform, lactose-negative-enterobacteria and enterobacteria were lower (p<0.05) in FERB than that in other treatment groups. Crypt depth (CD) was higher (p<0.05) in FERM, while the villi height to CD ratio was lower (p<0.05) in FERM than that in CONT and FERB. The treatments showed no effect (p>0.05) on cecal volatile fatty acids production. CONCLUSION: Feeding FCPMO improved immune responses, antioxidative status, and physiological conditions, but had less effect on the intestinal ecology of broilers.