AREMU, JIMOH OLALEKAN2022-12-142022-12-142019https://nerd.ethesis.ng/handle/123456789/611Moringa oleifera Seed Cake (MoSC) is a potential feedstuff for livestock but contains some antinutritional factors. Applications of technological treatments to MoSC could eliminate the antinutrients, improve its nutritional content, apparent nutrient digestibility coefficient and feeding values. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the proximate, secondary metabolites and mineral composition of raw MoSC (rMoSC), (ii) treat MoSC by soaking in 80% ethanol solution (ETMoSC), gamma irradiation at 10, 30 and 50KGy (GIMoSC), addition of ferrous sulphate to kaolin (FKMoSC), and soaking in 10, 20 and 30% ammonium hydroxide solution (AHMoSC), (iii) investigate the effects of treated MoSC (tMoSC) on performance, haematology, serum chemistry and histology of broiler chickens. Experiment 1, determined the proximate composition, phytochemical screening and quantification of rMoSC and studied the effects of ETMoSC on broiler chickens. Experiment 2 studied the effect of GIMoSC on broiler chickens. Experiment 3 evaluated the utilization of FKMoSC by broiler chickens. Experiment 4 investigated the response of broiler chickens to AHMoSC and determined the haematology, serum chemistry and histology of the broiler chickens fed tMoSC. A total of six-hundred-day old broiler chicks were used and each experiment lasted for 8 weeks. Data obtained were subjected to Completely Randomised Design, mean were separated using the Duncan Multiple range test at p=0.05. The findings of the study were that: i. crude protein content of rMoSC was 33.82%, it contains 173.20, 132.16, and 36.08mg/kg of phytate, tannins and saponins, respectively. ii. the daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens fed ETMoSC were significantly (p<0.05) poorer than the control, iii. Broiler chickens fed GIMoSC had similar (p>0.05) DWG (59.03 to 59.64 vs.59.69g/bird/day), FI (106.66 to 107.13 vs. 104.22g/bird/day) and FCR (1.81 to 1.84 vs. 1.75) with the control, those fed rMoSC had poorer DWG, FI and FCR, iv. Performance of broiler chickens fed FKMoSC were similar (p>0.05) to that of the control with DWG of 59.64 to 61.35 vs. 59.66g/bird/day, FI (101.98 to 105g vs.103.43bird/day) and FCR (1.71 to 1.74 vs. 1.73), those fed rMOSC had significantly (p<0.05) poorer performance, v. Broiler fed graded level of AHMoSC had similar (p<0.05) DWG, FI and FCR with the control (61.73 to 61.99 vs. 59.99; 103.75 to 104.74 vs. 102.51 g/bird/day and 1.67 to 1.69 vs. 1.71, respectively, and were significantly (p<0.05) better than value for rMoSC, vi. The haematological indices and serum chemistry of chickens fed tMoSC were poorer than the control but significantly (p<0.05) better than those of rMoSC; histology of liver in broiler chickens fed tMoSC revealed degeneration of the hepatocytes, while those fed rMoSC showed coagulative necrosis. The study concluded that the feeding value of the treated MoSC was better than raw; treatment of MoSC by soaking in ethanol was not effective in its detoxification. Treatments of MoSC with gamma Irradiation, Ferrous Sulphate–Kaolin and Ammonium hydroxide solution were more effective with performance results that are comparable to the control and their usage at higher level is recommended for effective detoxification of MoSC.