ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the impact of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) exposure on breeding Productivity and the potential mitigating role of Moringa oleifera as an antioxidant agent in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The experimental design followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with 400 day-old Japanese quail, divided into eight treatment groups: NC (negative control), PC (positive control fed with Moringa oleifera), T1 (Cd 25 mg/kg), T2 (Cd 50 mg/kg), T3 (Cd 75 mg/kg), T4 (Cd 25 mg/kg + Moringa), T5 (Cd 50 mg/kg + Moringa), and T6 (Cd 75 mg/kg + Moringa). Production and breeding productivity were assessed through body weight, hen-housed egg production (HHEP), hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight, egg mass, fertility, hatchability, and key egg quality parameters from the month of November 2023 to April 2024 at 24^th week. Results indicated that Cd exposure significantly impaired breeding productivity and egg quality (p ≤ 0.01), with the highest Cd level (75 mg/kg) causing the most severe declines. Conversely, groups supplemented with Moringa oleifera demonstrated significant improvements (p ≤ 0.01) in body weight, egg production, egg mass, fertility, and hatchability, highlighting Moringa’s protective antioxidant effects. ANOVA analysis confirmed significant differences among groups, reinforcing the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera supplementation at 7 g/kg feed in counteracting cadmium toxicity in quail. These findings suggest Moringa as a viable dietary intervention for improving poultry health under heavy metal contamination.