PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY OF ISA BROWN LAYERS FED NEEM LEAF MEAL-BASED DIETS

Abstract

In the quest for alternative feed resources the effect of neem leaf meal (NLM) in the diet of laying chickens on performance and egg quality was investigated. One hundred and forty four (144) point-of-lay chickens were assigned randomly to each of the five (5) dietary treatments (diet A= 0% NLM; diet B= 5% NLM; diet C= 10% NLM and diet D= 15% NLM) respectively. Each treatment comprised 36 layers in 3 replicates of 12 birds per replicate (with 3 birds/cage unit) in a completely randomized design. The feeding trial which was divided into 4 periods of 4 weeks each lasted 16 weeks, feed and water were provided fresh.. Data on feed consumption and egg production were taken daily. Hen day production and feed conversion ratio were calculated. Live weights of birds were taken at the beginning and end of trial. All data generated were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that diet containing 15% neem leaf meal had the highest crude protein (19.36%) and crude fibre (4.67%) while the control diet had the least crude protein (17.44%). Dietary inclusion of NLM had significant (P<0.05) effect on growth performance of Isa-Brown laying birds. Final live weight (1625.00±2.89g) was significantly (P<0.05) high in birds fed diet containing 10% neem leaf meal while birds fed diets A and B had the least final live weight (1555.00±2.89g). Birds fed control diet recorded the highest percentage hen day production (69.07±3.12%) whereas, those fed diet containing 15% NLM had the least HDP (45.19±2.59%). Total feed intake was also influenced significantly (P<0.05) by dietary inclusion of NLM. Feed conversion ratio was lowest (2.98±0.14) in birds fed control diet while those fed diet containing 15% NLM had the least feed conversion ability. External egg qualities were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by dietary inclusion of NLM. Internal qualities of the eggs were also not significantly (P>0.05) influenced except for yolk colour . Yolk colour increased with increase dietary inclusion of NLM. Highest yolk colour (7.20±0.44) was observed in birds fed diet D (15% NLM) while least yolk colour (4.69±0.31) was recorded in birds fed diet A (control). Oxidative status of the liver of Isa-Brown laying birds fed neem leaf based diet was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by dietary inclusion of NLM. Highest Glutathione (35.96±0.53 μ/g) was observed in birds fed diet containing 5% NLM while birds fed control diet had the least value (33.3±0.49 μ/g) for glutathione. Lipid peroxidation (5.05±0.71 μmol MDA/mg protein) was highest in birds fed diet containing 10% NLM while those fed control diet recorded the least value (3.1±0.43 μmol MDA/mg protein) of lipid peroxidation. Based on the liver histology, it was therefore concluded that the performance of layers was adversely affected by dietary inclusion of neem leaf meal even at 5%.