Efficacy of Neem Leaf (Azadirachta indica) Meal as an Alternative to Antibiotic in Broiler Ration

Abstract

The present work aimed at studying growth performance, carcass traits and health status in broiler chicken fed on dietary Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf Meal (NLM) over a period of 4 weeks. Day old broiler chicks (180) were randomly assigned to six treatment groups, each with 3 replicates (10). The last treatment was designated as control (T6) in which no supplement was added to the feed, on the other hand T5 named as antibiotic group which contain antibiotic supplement with feed,  while in treatments T1, T2 and T3, T4 NLP was provided as 1.0%,1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5%  of feed, respectively. All the data were analyzed statistically at 5% level of significance. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in feed intake (2101 g and 2104 g ) at 4 weeks in T3 and T4 group bird, but produced live weight (1708 g and 1712 g) which had no significant (P>0.05) difference with birds consumed highest amount of feed. The significantly (P<0.05) highest hemoglobin (16.33 gm/dl) was in 2.0% NLM broiler chicken than other Neem, control and antibiotic groups. No significant (P>0.05) difference was found in glucose and cholesterol for any treatment groups of broiler chicken, but significantly lowest (P<0.05) uric acid was observed in 1.50% NLM treated group than antibiotic group.  The NLM treated groups broiler chicken showed no significant (P>0.05) difference in Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes and Eosinophils counts comparing with antibiotic and control groups. Neem treated groups showed significantly (P<0.05) higher liver weight (43.67 g to 46.67 g) than antibiotic group (31.0 g). Spleen weights were not affected (P>0.05) by any treatments.  The highest (P<0.05) viable bacteria was found in control group (163 x 104) than antibiotic (33 x 104) and Neem treated groups. But, Neem and antibiotic treated groups showed no significant (P>0.05) difference among them. The results of the study demonstrate the beneficial effects of supplementing NLM on body weight gain and dressed yield in the treated groups in broiler chicken. NLM is, therefore, suggested to be used as an alternative of antibiotics on broiler chicken ration for higher profitability.