Research proposal

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Application for CLIFOOD Scholarship

Name of the applicant Last name: Abraham First name: Selamu

Please note that your research theme should be in accordance with the conceptual
research framework of CLIFOOD. Your research proposal has to relate to one of the
research themes listed on CLIFOOD’s homepage (see “Research topics”).

Title of the Proposal:

Effect of feeding different levels of seeds of Mangifera indica and Moringa stenopetala leaf
meal on growth performances, carcass components and meat quality parameters in broiler
chicken.
Related to the research topic on CLIFOOD Webpage:

Research topic CLIFOOD 06-HU

Summary: (maximum 300 words)

The present study is designed to evaluate response of feeding various levels of seeds of M. indica and
M. stenopetala leaf meal on growth performances, carcass components and meat quality parameters in
broiler chicken. Feeding value of M. indica and M. stenopetala will be conducted in two terms
separately. Four treatment rations will be formulated by including different levels of M. indica
and M. Stenopetala in first and second terms, respectively. The rations will be prepared nearly
isocaloric and isonitrogenous, to contain approximately 3100 and 3200 kcal/kg metabolizable
energy and 22% and 20% crude protein for starter’s and finisher’s diets, respectively. A total
of 168 a day old chicks (42 chicks in each treatment) will be used for the study for each term.
The chicks will be distributed to the four treatments groups in completely randomized design
(CRD). Important data will be collected for 60 consecutive days. At the end of the
experiments, three chickens will be randomly selected from each replication and will be
slaughtered for carcass components and meat quality evaluation. Collected data will be
analysed using general linear model procedure of Statistical Analysis Systems software (SAS,
2009). Differences between treatment means will be separated using Tukey Test.

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 Introduction: (maximum 200 words)
In Ethiopia, availability, quality and cost of feeds are the major constraints to commercial
poultry production (Solomon, 1996). In recent years, supply of conventional feeds that contrib
utes the highest proportion of ingredients in
poultry diet (Agede et al., 2002). This attributed to inadequate production due to climate chan
ges, coupled with the stiff competition between man and livestock. It had been reported that
the level of performance of poultry have gone down remarkably below expectation due to the
high cost of production, mainly arising from the costs of the conventional feed ingredients for
protein and energy sources (Dairu et al., 2008).

Therefore, the need to explore alternative and cheaper energy and protein sources for poultry
feeding. Seeds and leaf of M. indica and M. stenopetala are potential feeds for poultry (Abuye
et al., 2003). M. indica is important fruit crop grown in the tropics mostly for its pulp. It
consists ME (58-80%), CP (6-13%) and fat (6-16%) (Diarra, 2014). Leaf of M. stenopetala is
also promising food source in the tropics, because the tree is full of leaves during dry season
when other foods are scarce (Fahey, 2005).

Objective: (maximum 250 words)

To evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of seeds of Mangifera indica on feed
intake and growth performances of broiler chicken
To evaluate the effect of feeding various levels of seeds of Mangifera indica on
carcass components and meat quality parameters of broiler chicken
To investigate the effects of feeding different levels of Moringa stenopetala leaf meal
on feed intake and growth performances of broiler chicken
To evaluate the effect of feeding various levels of Moringa stenopetala leaf meal on
carcass components and meat quality parameters in broiler chicken

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 Research questions: (maximum 250 words)
What is the effect of feeding different levels of seeds of Mangifera indica on feed intake,
feed conversion ratio and performances in broiler chicken?
What is the effect of feeding different levels of seeds Mangifera indica on carcass
components and meat quality parameters in broiler chicken?
What is the effect of feeding different levels of seeds of Moringa stenopetala leaf meal on
feed intake, feed conversion ratio and performances in broiler chicken?
What is the effect of feeding different levels of seeds of Moringa stenopetala leaf meal on
carcass components and meat quality parameters in broiler chicken?

Methodology:
Experimental site

The experiment will be carried out at Wachemo University, which is situated 236km South-
West of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The place is located at latitude and longitude of 7°33′N
37°51′E coordinates with elevation of 2177 meters above sea level.

Experimental feeds

M. indica seed and M. stenopetala leaf will be collected from Arbaminich areas. M. indica
seed contain various anti-nutritional factors, which limit its utilization as poultry diets. The
seed will be soaked for 72:00 hours and boiled to lower ANFs. M. stenopetala leaf will be
spread on plastic under shed until sufficiently dry. Four treatment diets will be formulated to
be nearly iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous bases according to Leeson and Summers (2005).
For starter and finisher phases, treatment rations will contain:-
Expermrnt-1: M. indica seed meal at levels of 0%(T1), 2%(T2), 4%(T3) and 6%(T4).
Experiment-2:- M. stenopetala leaf meal at levels of 0%(T1), 3%(T2), 6%(T3) and 9%(T4).

Experimental design
Completely Randomized Design will be used. One hundred sixty eight one day old chicks
will be distributed in three replication of four treatments randomly.

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Table 1. Layout of the experiments

Treatment Inclusion level of Replications No of Total chicks

s M. indica M. stenopetala chicks/pen per treatment
T1 0% 0% 3 14 42
T2 10% 3% 3 14 42
T3 20% 6% 3 14 42
T4 30% 9% 3 14 42
The layout is for two different experiments with M.indica and M.stenopetala

Management of chicks
Experimental house, feeding and drinking troughs will be cleaned and disinfected before the
chicks arrival. Floors of the house will be covered with wood shaving. Each pen will be
prepared with 250-watt infrared heat bulb. Chicks will be vaccinated against economical
important diseases of chicken.

Laboratory analysis

Laboratory analyses will be done at Hawassa University. Each ingredient and treatment diets
will be analyzed for DM, CP, EE, CF and ash by method of proximate analysis (AOAC,
1995). Metabolizable energy (ME) content of the feeds will be determined by using method of
Wiseman (1987):
ME (kcal/ kg)=3951+54.4 EE−88.7 CF−40.80 Ash

Feed intake

Daily feed intake will be determined per pen daily:-

Feed consumed
Daily feed intake=
Expermental days

Body weight gain

Daily body weight gain will be calculated as a difference between mean final and initial body
weights divided by the number of experimental days

Final body weight−Initial body weight

Body weight gain/day /bird =
Durationof the experment

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Carcass measurements and quality

At the end of experiment period, three chicks will be randomly selected from each pen for
carcass evaluation. After slaughtering, dressing percentage and edible offal (heart, liver,
gizzard, kidney and spleen), small intestine, ceaca, proventriculus and crop will be measured.
Carcass quality traits (PH, color, texture, drip loss, tenderness, intramuscular fat content,
abdominal fat weight and percentage of eviscerated weight) will be investigated.

Statistical analysis

Collected data will be analysed using the general linear model procedure of Statistical
Analysis Systems software (SAS, 2009). Difference between treatments will be separated by
Tukey Test.

Model:

Yij=μ+Ti+ eij ,
Where: Yij= jth observation in ith treatment,
μ = mean,
Ti = treatment
eij = random error

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Main activities: (maximum 300 words)
Collecting M. indica seed and M. stenopetala leaves from Arbaminch area.
Processing of M. indica seed to reduce ani-nutritional factors (ANFs).
Processing of M. stenopetala leaves (spreading on plastic, air drying, and milling).
Collecting important feed ingredients (corn grain, soybean meal, noug seed cake,
wheat short, vitamin premix, salt, limestone di-calcium phosphate, lysine, methionine)
and milling of maize grain.
Laboratory analysis of experimental feeds
Formulating rations based on inclusion rates for
Purchasing important materials like feeding troughs, watering troughs, drugs and
othres
Experimental house cleaning, disinfection and preparing bedding materials like wood
shaving, teff straw and/or dried grass
Collecting chicks from Debre Zeit Elere Farm and distribution in to four of treatment
diets of three replication.
Recording initial body weight
Offering feeds based on proposed rates
Measuring body weight every weeks
Slaughter sample chicken for carcass measurement and quality
Measuring dressing percentage heart, liver, gizzard, kidney, spleen, small intestine,
ceaca, proventriculus, crop and eviscerated weight
Conducting laboratory analysis for carcass quality traits (PH, color, texture, drip loss,
tenderness, intramuscular fat content and abdominal fat weight
Statistical analysis and interpretation

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 Expected results: (maximum 300 words)
M. indica seed and M. stenopetala leaf remain basic alternative feed source in poultry
sector for commercial and smallholder producers
M. indica seed and M. stenopetala at highest inclusion level will have significant
effects on performance, yield and carcass quality

Thematic link to the objectives of CLIFOOD: (maximum 200 words)

In Ethiopia, high cost and unavailability of conventional feed remains the greatest constraint
to poultry production. The ever-increasing competition between man and poultry for energy
concentrates as feedstuff materials like maize, prompted to search an alternatively cheaper,
easily available and toxic free unconventional feed sources. M. indica seed as a by-product of
mango pulp has been reported to be a good source of energy for poultry. It could alternative
starch source to maize for poultry. M. stenopetala is rich in protein (28.2-36.2%). It could be
potential protein source instead of soyabean, noug and other conventional grains in poultry
sector. M. stenopetala is highly leafy plant even during dry season, this make the tree to be
alternative protein source.

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 Work plan:
S.n Tasks Responsible Person 2022 2023
o May June July Augu Sep Oct Nove Dec Jan Febur Mar Apr may Jun July
1 Collecting M. indica seed and Labourers’ and the
M.stenopetala leaf researcher
2 Processing M. indica and M.stenopetala Labourers’ and the
researcher
3 Collecting other feed ingredients The researcher
4 Purchasing feeding troughs, watering Labourers’ and the
troughs and others researcher
5 Cleaning and disinfection experimental Labourers’ and the
house researcher
6 Laboratory analysis of the feeds The researcher and lab.
assistances
7 Ration formulation The researcher
8 Collecting chicks from Debre Zeit Elere Labourers’ and the
Farm researcher
9 Recording body weight every weeks Labourers’ and the
researcher
10 Slaughter of sample chicken Labourers’ and the
researcher
10 Measuring carcass components The researcher and lab.
assistances
11 Laboratory analysis of carcass quality The researcher and lab.
traits assistances
12 Analysis of collected data The researcher
13 Interpretation and result write up The researcher
14 Publication process The researcher and
supervisors
15 Defence of Dissertation The researcher

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Time schedule:
Activity Time division (total 6 semesters for 3 years of research period)
1st Semester 2nd Semester 3rd Semester 4th Semester 5th Semester 6th Semester
Class session X X
Proposal updating and X
defence
Experimental period X
(Research)
Result write up X X
Defence X
Envisaged date for the completion of studies Month: July Year: 2023
(the grant is approved on the condition that the study programme will be completed)

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Estimated budget:
Please provide the detailed description along with full calculations of your proposed budget of the project. Please specify in Euros over the length
of the 3 years Ph.D. program phase, but do not include CLIFOOD scholarship (cost of living, cost for travel to Hawassa University and back).

1. Research cost
No. Items Quantity Amount of Euros per unit Total Euros

1 Chicks 168x2 1.5 504

2 Feed ingredients 10,000 kgx2 1 20,000

3 Feeding and watering trough 100 1 100

4 Laborer 10 50 500

5 Transportation(feeds, loading 300

and unloading)

Total 21,404

Note: the budget described above is for the two of researches (M. indica seed and M.stenopetala leaf)

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 Potential funding sources:
Please note that CLIFOOD is providing research funding to a limited extent only. Therefore, it is
advisable to seek for an additional funding source to cover a) the research budget and b) your living
expenses and other additional costs. Please indicate which organization is willing to contribute how
much to which part of your research activities.

Wachemo University, my home university covers home rent, 100 EUROS and Ethiopian
Minister of Education may cover about 5% of research cost (5% of 21404 = 1070.2 Euros)

List of references:
Abuye, C., Urga, K., Knapp, H., Selmar, D., Omwega, A.M., Imungi, J.K., Winterhalter, P.
2003. A compositional study of Moringa stenopetala leaves. East African Medical Journal.
80 (5): 247-252.
Agbede, J.O. and Aletor, V.A. 1997. The performance, nutrient utilization and cost
implications of feeding broiler finishers conventional or underutilized resources. Applied
Tropical Agriculture. 2: 57-62.
AOAC (1990). Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 16thed. Official
Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, Virginia. USA.
Diarra, S.S, Usman, B.A and Igwebuike, J.U. 2008. Replacement value of boiled Mango
kernel meal for maize in broiler finisher diets. ARPN J Agri Biolog Sci, 5: 47-52.
Diarra, S.S. 2014. Potential of mango (Mangifera indica L.) seed kernel as a feed ingredient
for poultry: a review. University of the South Pacific, School of Agriculture and Food
Technology, Alafua Campus, PMB Alafua, Apia, Samoa.
Fahey, J.W., 2005. Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional,
Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties, Part 1. Trees for Life Journal. 1, 5.
Leeson, S. and Summers, J.D., 2005. Some nutritional implications of leg problems with
poultry. British Veterinary Journal, 144(1), pp.81-92.
SAS (Statistical Software System) (2009). SAS User‟s Guide, Statistics. SAS Institute,
Inc., Cary, NC. USA.
Solomon Demeke. 1996. Evaluation of pepper spent as an egg yolk coloring agent in the diet
of white leg horn layers. 82.
Wiseman, J. 1987. Feeding of Non Ruminant Livestock. Butterworth and Co. Ltd. UK. pp.
9-15.

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