Performance, organ growth and economics of finisher broiler fed neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal as replacement for maize

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on the performance, organ growth and economics of finishing broilers. The harvested neem leaves were chopped and air dried under room temperature for ten days until they became crispy while retaining the greenish colouration. The dry leaves were hammer milled with 2mm sieve to produce leaf meal before being incorporated into broiler finisher diets. Four isonitrogenous finisher diets were formulated; containing 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% levels of neem leaf meal (NLM) as partial replacement for maize in the diets. A total of one hundred and eight (108) 4- week old birds were randomly selected, weighed and assigned to the four treatments in a complete randomised design. The four treatments were replicated three times with nine (9) birds per replicate. The birds were fed ad libitum with their respective diets and freely supplied with water. Results showed that the neem leaf levels significantly (P<0.05) affected all the performance indicators. Birds on 5% NLM had similar average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) with birds on 0% neem leaf meal (control) but significantly (P<0.05) superior to birds on 10% and 15% neem leaf meal levels. On the relative organ weight, except for the heart, all the organs were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the varying levels of neem leaf meal. The g/kgbody weight of the heart reduces as the level of NLM increases; with 15% NLM having the least heart weight (7.50±0.47g/kgbody weight). The cost analysis of replacing maize with neem leaf meal in the broiler finisher diets revealed that 15% level yielded least cost of feed consumed per bird (? 178.69), cost of feed consumed per kg body weight per day (? 6.38) and cost of feed per kg weight (? 55.84). It is concluded that 5% replacement level of maize will enhance optimum performance and organ growth while 10% NLM brings about the optimum cost benefit in feeding finisher broilers with neem leaf meal.