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- Title
Dietary supplementation of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts improved growth performance and reduced production cost in broilers.
- Authors
Paul, Torun Kumar; Hasan, Md. Mehedi; Haque, Md. Anowarul; Talukder, Sudipta; Sarker, Yousuf Ali; Sikder, Mahmudul Hasan; Noor Ali Khan, Mohammad Abu Hadi; Sakib, Mohammed Nazmus; Kumar, Alip
- Abstract
Background and Aim: Global trend to remove the antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) from animals contributes to the exploration of successful measures to sustain production and reduces the intestinal diseases in the post-AGP era. Plant extracts, therefore, have been used to improve performance and intestinal health. Here, we conducted a study to evaluate the effects of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extracts (NLE) as alternatives to AGPs in broiler chickens. Materials and Methods: Sixty day-old broiler chicks were assigned to 12-floor pens, each stocked with five birds and divided into three treatment groups of four pens per treatment. The groups were: Negative control, basal diet without additives; positive control, basal diet with antibiotics and vitamins; and NLE treated group, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% aqua extract of neem leaves. Results: Overall feed intake was significantly (p=0.05) highest in the positive control. Higher body weight, higher dressing percentage, and lower feed conversion ratio were observed in birds treated with NLE compared to the negative control group (p=0.05) but not the positive control group (p>0.05). There was no significant variation in hematology between different groups. Furthermore, the economic evaluation indicated that the NLE treatment was found cheaper than control and antibiotic treatment in cost-benefit analysis. Conclusion: We suggest NLE might be a cheaper alternative to antibiotics in broiler production as indicated by improved body weight and feed efficiency.
- Subjects
NEEM; INDUSTRIAL costs; BROILER chickens; INTESTINAL diseases; PLANT extracts; DIETARY supplements
- Publication
Veterinary World, 2020, Vol 13, Issue 6, p1050
- ISSN
0972-8988
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.14202/vetworld.2020.1050-1055