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TY - JOUR AU - Nwachukwu, Chinwe U. AU - Uchenna, Okonkwo N. AU - Ibhafidon, Oluwadamilola D. PY - 2025/03/20 Y2 - 2026/07/28 TI - THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF WISTAR RATS FED Moringa oleifera LEAF MEAL DIETS JF - Nigerian Journal of Animal Production JA - NJAP VL - IS - SE - Articles DO - 10.51791/njap.vi.8717 UR - https://mail.njap.org.ng/index.php/njap/article/view/8717 SP - 353 - 357 AB - <p><em>Moringa oleifera (MO) is a tropical herbal plant with several variety of ethnomedicinal values. The plant leaves, </em><em>seeds, roots constituent numerous medicinal, biological, nutritional and phytochemical properties used </em><em>pharmaceutically in traditional medicine. The medicinal properties of MO include cholesterol lowering, immune </em><em>booster, blood sugar regulator, antioxidant activities. The study tested the hypothesis that supplementation of </em><em>Moringa oleifera leaf meal will alter the performance of Wistar rats. A total of forty-eight (48) Wistar rats (both </em><em>males and females, initial body weight = 150g; age = 90 days old) were used for the 12-week feeding trial. The </em><em>animals were housed individually (14 x 14 x 15 cm) in a hutch and randomly assigned to four dietary treatments </em><em>(n=12/group). The Wistar rats were supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal diets at an inclusion rate (0, </em><em>2, 3, 4g/kg) per diet. Performance was monitored and recorded. At the end of feeding trials, performance was </em><em>analysed. Inclusion of varying levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal in Wistar rat diets increased (p&lt;0.05) daily </em><em>weight gain, weight gain, daily feed intake, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed conversion ratio in males when </em><em>compared to females. However, the daily feed intake, feed intake, feed efficiency and feed conversion ratio </em><em>(p&gt;0.05) were not affected among gender and diet interactions. It was concluded that inclusion of Moringa </em><em>oleifera leaf meal as feed supplement at 4% inclusion level improved the physiological responses in Wistar rat </em><em>diets with no adverse effects on their performance. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of Moringa oleifera </em><em>leaf meal within the levels of 4g/kg as daily intake in Wistar rats’ ration</em></p> ER -