Effects of dietry penta-herbal plant meal inclusion on performance and haematological indices of Noiler Hens

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a penta-herbal plant meal (P-HPM) mixture on the performance and haematological indices of Noiler hens. The P-HPM, comprising equal proportions of Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica, Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum gratissimum, and Hibiscus sabdariffa, was incorporated into five experimental diets (T1–T5) containing 0%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 3.75%, and 5% P-HPM, respectively, with T1 serving as the control. Seventy-five 12-week-old Noiler hens were randomly allotted to the five dietary treatments, with fifteen birds per treatment and three replicates of five birds each in a completely randomized design. After 14 weeks of feeding, dietary P-HPM significantly (P < 0.05) affected several productive performance parameters, with hens fed the 2.5% P-HPM diet attaining first lay at 115.67 days (14.66 days earlier than the control) and recording the highest hen-day egg production (75%) and egg mass (3676.9 g). Haematological indices, including haemoglobin concentration (7.97–8.65 g/dL), packed cell volume (29.67–35.30%), red blood cell count (7.29–8.34 × 10⁶/mL), and white blood cell count (5.37–6.30 × 10⁶/mL), were not adversely affected by dietary P-HPM supplementation. P-HPM at 1.25–2.5% produced the most favourable laying performance, whereas higher inclusion levels were associated with reduced performance. Therefore, 1.25–2.5% P-HPM is recommended for noiler hens under the conditions of this study.