Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder and fruit powder as herbal feed additive on carcass characteristic of broiler chicks

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the optimum level of supplementation of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder and fruit powder in the ration of broiler chicks (cobb-400) and to assess the effect of supplementation of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf and fruit powder as herbal feed additive on performance of broiler chicks at poultry farm, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner. A feeding trial of six weeks using 210 birds of day-old broiler chicks was conducted followed by five days metabolic trial. They were divided into seven treatment groups with three replicates of ten chicks in each replicate. The control group (T1) was fed on basal diet without any supplementation and other six treatment groups were supplemented with 0.5% Neem leaf powder, 1% neem leaf powder, 0.5% Neem fruit powder, 1% Neem fruit powder, 0.25% Neem leaf powder+0.25% Neem fruit powder and 0.5% Neem leaf powder + 0.5% Neem fruit powder and designated as T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 groups, respectively. Statistical analysis of data revealed highly significant (P