Dietary Moringa Leaf Supplementation Affects Heat-Stressed Broilers: II-Blood Metabolites, Antioxidant Activity and Meat Quality

Heat stress exposure negatively influences broilers' productivity and profitability. Stress exposure induces oxidative stress, which affects the general metabolism of heat-stressed birds and impairs carcass yield and meat quality. We investigated the impact of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MLM) supplementation in heat-stressed (HS) broilers on their blood metabolites, antioxidant bio-indicators, carcass yield, and meat quality. We used three hundred one-day-old Cobb chickens and were randomly divided into three groups, each with five replicates of 20 birds. The thermoneutral control group received a basal diet, while the other two groups experienced cyclic thermal stress from day 22 to 42 and were fed the basal diet provided with either 0 or 2 g MLM/kg diet. On day 42, we reported carcass characteristics and evaluated meat yield and quality. Blood samples (n=10) were used for hematological assessment, as well as plasma was employed to measure blood metabolites and antioxidant markers. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) reduction in red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HBG) concentration, hematocrit (HCT) percentage, albumin level, and endogenous antioxidant activity. Meanwhile, plasma total protein, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea levels, and liver enzymes activity were significantly (P<0.05) increased. The carcass yield and meat quality showed significant (P<0.05) deterioration in response to heat exposure. MLM administration to the basal diet significantly enhanced blood metabolite levels, hematological parameters, antioxidant activities, carcass yield, and meat quality in broiler chickens exposed to HS. Thus, we have confirmed the potentiality of using dietary MLM to adjust the negative effect of HS on broiler metabolism and subsequently improve carcass yield and meat quality.