EFFECT OF NEEM (Azadirachta indica) LEAF MEAL ON HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF BROILER CHICKEN AT THE STARTER PHASE

Abstract

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of starter broilers (0-4 Weeks). The Neem leaves used in the experiment were manually harvested, air-dried and milled to become Neem leaf meal. The Neem leaf meal was included in broiler starter diets at 0, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% levels, respectively. One hundred and fifty (150) Marshal Broiler day-old chicks were divided into 5 groups of 30 birds each and randomly assigned to the 5 experimental diets in a completely randomized design (CRD). Each group was sub-divided into 3 replicates of 10 birds each and each replicate housed in a pen fitted with necessary brooding facilities. The hematological result shows no significant (P<0.5) difference was observed in PVC, RBC, MCV and Basophiles across all the treatments. The hemoglobin value in T1, T2, T3 and T4 are statically similar and within the normal range. A significant (P>0.5) difference was observed in MCHC and WBC but within the normal range for broiler. The result on serum biochemistry shows a significant difference (P> 0.5) in all the parameters measured across the treatment except urea which shows no significant difference (P<0.5). The glucose level increased with an increase in Neem leaf meal, while there was a decreased in cholesterol level as the dietary Neem leaf meal increased. In conclusion the hematological and serum biochemical parameters obtained from this study suggested that dietary Neem leaf meal has no deleterious effects on the internal physiology of starter broilers and may lead to the production of low-cholesterol chicken meat as demand by health-conscious consumers.