Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Animal Production

This research was conducted to study the effect of using moringa, rosemary and olive leaves as a phytogenic feed additives on Muscovy duck performance. The experiment was designed to study the effect of the use of two levels (1 and 2%) of leaves of moringa, rosemary or olive plant on the performance of ducks compared to the control diet or the control with antibiotic. The most important results could be summarized as follows: a significant improvement was found in the digestion coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract, for all treatments containing plant additives compared with the antibiotic and control groups. All groups fed on diets containing phytogenic feed additives or antibiotic showed a significant decrease in the amount of feed consumed with a significant improvement in the feed conversion ratio compared with the control group. The best feed conversion ratio was for the group fed on a diet with 2% of moringa leaves. The weight of the carcass was highest for the groups fed on plant additives compared to the antibiotic and control group, whereas the weight of the liver, the weight of the digestive system and the length of the digestive tract (cm) were significantly lower for the antibiotic and control groups. Nutrient groups on plant or antibiotic additives showed no significant effect on% moisture content and% crude protein for ducks, but significantly increased meat content of ash

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