Olugbemi et al., 2010. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 22 (6): 118

The feasibility of using Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) as an ingredient in cassava chip based diets fed to commercial egg strain chickens and its effects on their production and egg quality were investigated.  Eighty laying birds comprising of ten birds per replicate and two replicates per treatment were assigned to four isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments.  The diets comprised of Cassava Chips (CC) and MOLM combinations (CC0M0 - 0%CC, 0%MOLM; CC20M0 - 20%CC, 0%MOLM; CC20M5 - 20%CC, 5%MOLM; CC20M10 - 20%CC, 10%MOLM) in addition to other ingredients.  A completely randomized design was employed. Feed intake, feed conversion ratio and laying percentage were not influenced by the inclusion of MOLM.  The lowest egg weight was from the maize based group (CC0M0).  Feed cost per kilogram and feed cost per kilogram egg produced declined with inclusion of MOLM.   Albumen and yolk percentages were not influenced by the inclusion of MOLM.  Eggs from birds on the 10% MOLM diets differed in Roche colour score (7.79) from those on the other diets. General acceptability of the cooked eggs was highest from the 10% MOLM group. Results of the study indicate that cassava chips can be fed whole to laying birds and the inclusion of MOLM at levels up to 10% in cassava chip based diets fed to commercial egg laying birds is possible and without negative effects in terms of egg quality parameters.  The benefits of enhanced acceptability are equally an advantage of its inclusion.