摘要：Background and Objective: Sustainable quail farming using readily available feed resources with nutraceutical properties has the potential to improve animal protein supply in resource-poor communities worldwide. Moringa oleifera leaf meal is one such feed resource that is rich in potentially beneficial bioactive and other organic compounds but has not been evaluated in quails. The study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf meal on growth performance, haematology, serum biochemistry and carcass and meat quality traits of female Japanese quails. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight female Japanese quails (196.6±3.12 g live-weights) were randomly allocated to 21 pens (100 cm long×60 cm wide×30 cm high), each holding eight birds. Three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated by diluting a commercial grower diet with Moringa oleifera leaf meal at 0 (MOLM0), 2.5 (MOLM25) and 5% (MOLM50). The three diets were randomly allocated to the 21 pens such that each diet was replicated seven times. Feed intake, weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio were determined on a weekly basis. At 6 weeks of age, all Japanese quails were taken to a local poultry abattoir for slaughter and blood collection. Haematology, serum biochemistry, carcass traits , size of internal organs and meat quality parameters were determined. Results: There was no week×diet interaction effect (p>0.05) on feed intake, weight gain and gain-to-feed ratio. Quails reared on MOLM25 had higher overall weight gain (30.72 g bird1) compared to those fed MOLM50 (18.60 g bird1) but promoted similar (p>0.05) overall weight gain to those fed MOLM 0 (29.28 g bird1). There was no dietary influence on all blood parameters , carcass characteristics , meat quality parameters and size of gizzards, livers, proventriculus and small intestines. Quails offered MOLM25 had longer (p<0.05) large intestines (13.84 cm) compared to those offered MOLM50 (11.24 cm). Conclusion: It was concluded that including MOLM at 2.5% improves weight gain without compromising the physiological status and meat quality of adult female Japanese quails.
