EVALUATION OF CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, AND HEAMATOLOGICAL INDICES OF BROILERS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH NEEM LEAF (AZADIRACHTAINDICA) MEAL IN COLD AND HOT SEASONS OF KEBBI STATE SUDAN SAVANNA
Abstract
Two feeding trials were conducted in the cold and hot seasons of 2023/2024, involving 144 unsexed day-old broiler chicks each, to determine the optimum level of supplementation of Neem Leaf Meal (NLM) in broiler diets in cold and hot seasons. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD). The birds were randomly allocated to four treatment groups of thirty-six birds per treatment; each treatment was replicated three times with 12 birds per replicate. The four groups were randomly allocated to four diets containing varying levels of NLM of 0, 3, 6, and 9% representing diets 1 to 4, respectively. At the end of the experiment, carcass characteristic and hematological indices were determined. Result on carcass characteristic shows no significant difference (P>0.05) in all the parameters measured, except for the weight of the feather, shank, and liver, which increased with the increase level of NLM. The result of hematological indices shows no significant difference (P>0.05) except in eosinophils, HP, MCH, and platelets. The second phase of the experiment, which was conducted in the hot season, indicated that both carcass characteristics and hematological indices were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by NML in all the parameters measured, except carcass weight. Hematological values were within the reference range. The results of the t-test only showed a significant (P<0.05) difference in the carcass characteristics of broilers supplemented with NLM in relation to the season. The result of hematological indices of broiler also shows no significant effect (P>0.05) when supplemented with NLM with relation to seasons. NLM supplementation should be adopted in the cold season in an inclusion of up to 9% for broiler production because it has been shown to influence carcass weight without showing a deleterious effect on the hematological characteristics of the birds.
Keywords:
Carcass Characteristics, Heamatological Indices, Broilers, Neem Leaf Meal, Cold and Hot Seasons, Sudan SavannaDownloads
Published
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16268919Issue
Section
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammed Ibrahim Ribah, Aminu Bawa, Bello Suleiman, Misbau A. Muftau
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Aanuoluwapo. A. Akintomide; Gbenga. E. Onibi (2022). Enzyme Supplemented Neem Leaf Meal Based Diets: Effects on Carcass and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture, and Biotechnology, 7(1), pp. 57-76.
Agrawal, D. K.,Garg, A. K. and Nath, K. (1997). The Use of Water-Washed Neem (Azadirachta) indica) Kernel Cake in the Feeding of Buffalo calves. Journal of Agricultural Science. 108:497-499.
Akintomide A.A, and Emanuel, O.G. (2018). Growth performance, shank pigmentation and Blood profile of broiler chickens fed with neem leaf meal based diets. International Journal of Environmental Agriculture and Biotechnology Agriculture. 3(2)455-460.
Ansari, J., Sohail, H. K.,Ulhaq, A., & Yousaf, M. (2012).Effects of the Level of (Azadirachta indica) Dried Leaf Meal as Phytogenic Feed Additive on the Growth Performance and Haemato-biochemical parameters in broiler chicks. Journal of Agricultural and Agricultural Chemistry, 86:69–79.
Hossain, M.E., Siddiqu, M.T. and Hossain, M.M. (2021). Dietary inclusion of neem leaf powder on growth performance, blood biochemical parameters and profitability of broilers. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science. 50(2):114-122.
Kabir, M. (2014). Effect of MoringaOloifera on Carcass and Growth Performance of Broiler Chicks, project submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero.
Kyere, C.G., Twumasi, G., H. Seidu and T. Quaye (2018) influence of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on pearl growth performance and blood profile Guinea fowl. Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agricultural Education, University of Education, Winneba Ghana.
Linus, I, Odo, L., Bratte J.and Isikwenu, O. (2016) Effect of graded levels of neem(Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on shika egg production and egg quality Brown layers. Delta State University, Asaba.
Muhammad S.B, Sobayo R.A, Adegbenjo A.A, Sogunle O.M, Osu OM, and Adeyemi O.A growth performance and immunity status of broiler starter birds treated with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal and garlic (Allium sativum). Asian Jounal of biological Science volume, (64):33-34.
Nakamura, K., Katafuchi, A., Shimamoto, S., Ogawa, G., Khandelwal, N., Tatsugawa, K., Fujita, Y., Ohtsuka, A. and Ijiri, D. (2022). Effects of Dried Neem Leaf Extract on Growth Performance, Meat Yield, and Meat Quality in the Skeletal Muscle of Broiler Chickens under High-Temperature Conditions. Frontiers in Animal Science, 21 June 2022.
Obikaonu H.O., Uchegbu M.C., Durunna C.S., and Udedibie A. B.I. (2011). Performance and economics of production of deep litter-managed starter broilers fed neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development. 14(1):483 -489
Ogbuewu, I. P. (2008).Physiological Responses of Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of Neem (Azadirachtaindica) Leaf Meal. Master of Science. Thesis. Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
Ogbuewu, I. P., Odoemenam, V. U., Obikaonu, H. O., Opara, M. N., Emenalom, O. O., Uchegbu, M. C., Okoli, I. C., Esonu, B. O. and Iloeje, M. U. (2011). The Growing Importance of Neem (Azadirachtaindica A. Juss) in Agriculture, Industry, and Medicine and the environment: A review. Research Journal of Medicinal Plants 5(3): 230-245.
Olabode, A. D. (2009). Performance characteristics and hematological indices of fed broilers graded level of neem leaf meal. Ph. D. Thesis, Department of Animal Science Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Oluremi M. Daudu, Rachel Balami, Musa Muhammad, Taye S. Olugbemi and Kayode A. Olutumogun (2019) Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on growth performance, hematology, and serum biochemical indices of Japanese equel (Cotumix) japonica) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Ubua, J.A., P.O. Ozung and P.G. Inagy (2018) Dietary inclusion of neem leaf meal influence Growth performance and carcass characteristics of the broiler chickens, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Taraba State University, Taraba.
Unigwe, C.R., Balogun, F.A., Okorofor, U.P., Odah, I.S., Abonyi, F.O. and Obna, J.F. (2016). Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on the growth performance of rabbit hematology. WSN 55:51-62.
Yigrem, M., Animu, G., & Mekuriaw, Y. (2024). Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica), gurawa (Vernonia amygdalina) leaf meal, and garlic (Allium sativum) on performance and egg qualities of layer chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 33(4)
