Effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaf extract and clove bud oil to the diet on microflora population and intestinal morphology of broiler birds

The present experiment was carried out to assess the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) bud oil on the intestinal gut morphology and microbial status of broiler birds.Two hundred broiler chicks (day old) were randomly distributed into five treatment groups.Dietary supplemented groups were comprised of Group-1 (control); Group-2 (basal diet with Bacitracin methylene disalicylate @0.5 g/kg of feed); Group-3 (basal diet with Moringa oleifera extract @ 0.55 g/kg of feed); Group-4 (basal diet supplemented with clove bud oil @ 0.6 g/kg of feed) and Group-5 (diet supplemented with Moringa oleifera extract and clove bud oil combination at same dose rate respectively).Result revealed that Salmonella spp.and E. coli counts in caecum were found similar (P>0.05)across different treatment groups but Lactobacillus spp.count tended (P=0.10) to be higher for group-3, group-4 and group-5 as compared to control and antibiotic fed group.Intestinal histomorphological studies showed significant difference (P<0.05) in villi height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD) of duodenum of experimental birds in group-3 in comparison to other groups.VH/CD ratio of jejunum and ileum were tended to be higher (P=0.07 and P=0.06 respectively) in antibiotic, Moringa plant extract and clove oil supplemented group than control.The finding might have resulted from a controlled damage to the enterocytes, thus reducing the nutrient requirement for their turnover in M. oliefera and clove bud oil supplemented groups.It can be concluded that Moringa oliefera leaf extract and clove bud oil have the potential to be used as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter to improve the health status of broiler birds.