The Potential of Moringa oleifera as a Sustainable Broiler Feed Additive: Investigating Awareness, Perceptions and Use by Broiler Farmers and Moringa Farmers in South Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The M. oleifera tree is widely cultivated worldwide, particularly in South Asia, North Eastern and South Western Africa. Many studies have found that addition of M. oleifera may play a vital role in the immunity and production performance in poultry, suggesting that M. oleifera  is a potential natural feed supplement in poultry diet. This study investgates the awareness, perceptions, and use of M. oleifera as a feed additive by broiler farmers and Moringa farmers in South Africa, which will help to promote the cultivation of sycamore wood and its application in poultry. However, the manuscript need to be revised thoroughly before acception.

1. The Introduction is too long. The author needs to focus the discussion around the central research topic. The introduction contains too many discussions about chicken meat, which makes it lengthy and unnecessary.

2. The manuscript need to be revised according to the guidelines for manuscript submission. The tables and figures need to be put in the place where they first appear.

3. Line 233. Delete it.

4. The author should provide some survey data as supplementary material to serve as evidence for the results.

5. The Conclusion part need to be concentrated.

Author Response

Response: The authors have reduced the length of the introduction from 131 lines to 86 lines, dwelling more on the central research topic. Much of the content about chicken meat has been removed. Only relevant information has been left as suggested. Response: The manuscript has been revised, following the journal guidelines. Figures and tables have been put in the place where they first appear. Response: Line 233 has been deleted Response: Supplementary data has been provided. Access to the data from this study is available to all readers upon request via email, in accordance with the FSNet-Africa data-sharing policy. Response: The authors have revised the conclusion of the manuscript to give a clear and concise conclusion focused more on the key findings and implications of the study.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

since this paper presents interesting information on using Moringa tree in broilers as additives, including moringa production, broiler market access and benifit of moringa when used, I do not think it bring acdemic information to readers. Thus, this paper must give out more acdemic information, in a scientific analysis of precious data.

Author Response

The authors appreciate this comment. We believe that this work contributes to existing academic literature as it provides valuable insights on the utilization of Moringa oleifera for enhancing broiler chicken growth. To our knowledge there is limited existing literature that explores this specific aspect of Moringa oleifera application in the context of broiler farming. The insights from the study can be of practical importance to researchers and practitioners in the field.  The findings provide information essential for researchers interested in identifying the barriers and drivers that impact the adoption of innovative agricultural practices, contributing to the broader discourse on technology transfer and adoption in agriculture. We have added in Line 58-76 the scientific background of Moringa’s properties and summary findings from previous research where Moringa had been used as a growth promoter.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This report is based on interviews with South African broiler farmers regarding their awareness and cultivation of Moringa as a broiler feed. This report is worthy of inclusion in this journal because it provides useful information for the promotion of Moringa as a broiler feed and for sustainable poultry farming, especially in the South African region.

 

However, minor errors are scattered throughout, and the manuscript should be reviewed again for correction.

L52 　　　16,9 kg, 5.5kg and 2.8kg 　→　16.9 kg, 5.5 kg and 2.8 kg

L72       antibiotics for growth promotion antibiotics for growth promotion (AGPs)

L74        148 mg  →　 148 mg

L111    beta-carotene　→　 b-carotene

L113    20.32,387.83,1545.33, 26.69,0.83 mg/100g 　→　20.32, 387.83, 1545.33, 26.69, 0.83 mg/100 g

L115    24-30g per 100g  　→　   24-30 g per 100 g

 

Table 1.

There are a number of entries where Total (100%) is not indicated.

 

Throughout the manuscript, the following three notations are mixed.

Moringa

moringa

 

moringa oleifera

 

Table 1.

There are a number of entries where Total (100%) is not indicated.

 

Throughout the manuscript, the following three notations are mixed.

Moringa

moringa

moringa oleifera

Comments on the Quality of English Language

 

 

 

Author Response

Response: The authors appreciate this comment and the time taken to review and provide feedback.

Comment: L52 16,9 kg, 5.5kg and 2.8kg 　→　16.9 kg, 5.5 kg and 2.8 kg

Response: Line 52 has been removed from the manuscript. Reviewer 1 suggested a reduction of the entire introduction, especially the focus on broiler meat. In doing so, line 52 was removed.

Comment: L72       antibiotics for growth promotion antibiotics for growth promotion (AGPs)

Response:  This has been corrected as suggested, (AGPs) have been abbreviated at first mention in line 50

Comment:  L74        148 mg  →　 148 mg

Response: This line was deleted in shortening the introduction

Comment:  L111  beta-carotene　→　 b-carotene

Response: beta-carotene has been replaced with b-carotene as suggested in line 65

Comment: L113    20.32,387.83,1545.33, 26.69,0.83 mg/100g 　→　20.32, 387.83, 1545.33, 26.69, 0.83 mg/100 g

Response:  20.32,387.83,1545.33, 26.69,0.83 mg/100g  has been changed to 20.32, 387.83, 1545.33, 26.69, 0.83 mg/100 g in line 67

Comment: L115    24-30g per 100g  　→　   24-30 g per 100 g

Response: L115    24-30g per 100g  has been changed to   24-30 g per 100 g in line 69

Comment: Table 1. There are a number of entries where Total (100%) is not indicated.

Response: All the numbers indicate a total of 100%

Comment: Throughout the manuscript, the following three notations are mixed. Moringa, moringa, moringa oleifera

Response: The authors have used M. oleifera throughout the document for consistency

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Research should consider whether there are cost-effective economic studies that consider the production and inclusion of Moringa oleifera in necessary quantities as an additive in poultry feed formulas.

Why carry out the survey in the open population, if those directly involved are farmers and poultry farmers?

Author Response

Comment: Why carry out the survey in the open population, if those directly involved are farmers and poultry farmers?

Response: The participants of the study were only broiler farmers and Moringa farmers. This study was not conducted in the open population. Please see line 91-97 on the methodology.

Comment: Research should consider whether there are cost-effective economic studies that consider the production and inclusion of Moringa oleifera in necessary quantities as an additive in poultry feed formulas

There is still a research gap in studies that have conducted a cost-benefit analysis. The authors reported what has been done and highlighted this gap in line 71-76

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have revised the manuscript according to my comments.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Since I do not think this paper is high academically,  the oringinal information on the use of Moringa as additive in poultry production is helpful to readers who concern this field. Moringa is of potential in animal production, even it is still far from in large scale use. The manuscript is well revised. Thus, I suggest it be accepted.