ABSTRACT
A research study
was conducted for 21 days to evaluate the effect of different levels inclusion of neem leaves (Azadirachta Indica ) extract on growth
performance and cost evaluation of broiler finisher bird. fresh neem leaveswere
collected, air dried for a week after which they were exposed to sunlight for 2
hours. The dry leaves were milled and 50g of the neem leaf meal were taken in a
non-metallic jar, one litre of hot boiled distilled water was poured on it and
kept at room temperature for 5 – 8 hours to prepare an infusion. The diet
formulation for the experiment has equal composition of feed ingredient at
finisher stage for all treatments. Eighty (80) “Fidan” unsexed day old chicks
were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of sixteen (16) bird each in
which neem leaf infusion was in corporate at 0, 25, 35,45,and 55ml/litre for treatment 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively.
Each treatment was further replicated twice with eight birds per replicate in a
completely Randomize Design. Result showed that treatment effect on Average
Final Body Again (ABWG), Average Daily Feed intake.(ADFI), Water intake and
feed conversion Ratio (FCR) were significantly (P < 0.05) in control
(Treatment one) as compared to others. Treatment five (T5) exhibited better
(p<0.05) mean body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mean feed intake.
Average feed cost analysis reveals that a profit of N649.57 is made per bird on
the 55ml/litre of neem leaf infusion as against N345.46, N357.8, N356.77 and 505.33
for birds on the control, 25, 35, and 45ml/litre neem leaf infusion on the
control, 25, 35, and 45ml/litre neem leaf infusion respectively. It is
concluded that inclusion of 55ml/litre
of Neem leaf infusion in waters of broilers will support optimum performance
and economic benefit.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
The livestock industry
in developing countries has been plagued by numerous problems which include
scarce feed ingredients and synthetic drugs that are in strict competition with
man’s dietary need. The high cost of conventional feedstuff has already sent a
lot of livestock farmers out of business, thus, leading to reduction in overall
animal protein production and availability for humans dietary need. The
provision f feed alone has been reported to account for 60 – 8% of total cost
of livestock production in developing countries. (Igboeli 2000, Esonu, 2006).
In view of this there
is increased interest by livestock farmers on the search for non – conventional
feed ingredients of comparable quality that are believed to be cheaper such as
leaf and seed meals of ethno-medicinal plant (Okole et al, 2001). It is well
recognized that gastro-intestinal normal flora plays an important role in the health and
performance of poultry and most of the commercial poultry farmers use
antibiotics as growth promoters and to reduce the chance of occurrence of
infectious diseases which usually result to higher cost of production and
ultimately lower net returns. The average growth improvement has been estimated
to be between 4 and 5% (Moham et al., 2003). However, concerns has been raised
about the use of antibiotics as therapeutics and growth promoter which could
lead to a problem of increasing resistance in bacteria of human and animal
origin.
It is necessary that
antibiotics residuals in meat do not impair human health and has been
recommended that the use of antibiotics
as growth promoters be discontinued (Moham et al, 2003). In an effort to
develop new feedstuff for animal
rearing, a number of researcher in
recent times has investigated proximate composition of neem seed cake (Bawa et
al., 2006) Uko and Kamalu, 2001) and leaf meal (Oforji ndu, 2006, Esonu, et al, 2005, Ogbuewu et
al., 2010) and its use as feedstuff in poultry (Esonu et al; 2005; Oforjindu,
2006) and rabbits (Sokaubi and Egbunike, 2000).
Neem belongs to the
family Meliaceae. It is the most versatile – multifarious trees of tropics,
with immense potential. It posses maximum useful non-wood products such as
leaves, barks, flowers, fruits, seeds, gum, oil and neem cake than any other
tree species. Biologically, neem has numerous bioactive ingredients which are
known to have anti – dermic, anti feedant, antival, anti – fungal, anti –
inflammatory, anti – scabic, insecticidal, larvicidal, anti – implantation,
nematicidal, speronatocidal and other biological activities Brahmachari,
(2004).
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
Owing to the fact that antibiotics
residuals in meat could impair human health, the increase in microbial
resistance to anti-biotics and residues in chicken meat product can be harmful
to consumers. The extensive use of antibiotics as therapeutic and growth
promoters could lead to a problems of increasing resistance in bacteria of
human and animal origin, in gram
negative bacteria (Salmonella spp and Escherichada coli.
The use of neem (A. Indica) leaf extract might help to control infection and
enhance growth performance of bird.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION
Despite
being potentially cost effective, the leaf contains wide range of medicinal
properties and actives substance that can aid in digestion with useful
component of animal. The neem leaves extract contain nimbendiol, nimbolid and
guercetin. The constituent have been demonstrated to exhibit antidermatic,
antifeedant, antiviral, antifungal, anti – inflammatory, antiscabio,
hisecticiclal, larvicidal, anti- implantation, nematicidal, spermatocidal and
other biological activities.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Specifically
the aims and objective of the research work is to determine;
(i)
The growth performance of broiler
finisher birds fed with different infusion levels of neem leaf extract.
(ii)
The economical implication of broiler
finisher birds fed with different infusion levels of neem leaf extract.