Article,
Effect of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Leaf Meal Inclusion and Housing systems on Nutrient Digestibility Coefficient and Excreta Egg Count of Pullet Chickens
Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, (2017)
Abstract
This study was conducted to access the response of pullet chickens to varying levels of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal (NLM) under two housing systems. One hundred and eighty 8-weeks old Dominant black strain pullet chickens were allotted to two different housing systems (deep litter and deep litter with run). Birds in each housing system were subdivided into three groups based on the Neem inclusion levels (0, 0.5 and 1.0 % NLM). Each group consists of thirty nine randomly selected birds and three replicates of thirteen birds. The experiment was arranged in a 2 x 3 Factorial layout in a Completely Randomized Design. Digestibility coefficient and excreta egg count were carried out at 8 th and 16 th weeks. Results on digestibility showed that the housing systems employed and incorporation of NLM in the diets of the pullets had no effect (p<0.05). Pullets fed with diets containing NLM had similar (p>0.05) excreta egg counts with those on control diet. It can be concluded that up to 1% NLM inclusions in the diets of pullet chickens preferably raised in deep litter housing could be seen as an effective means of controlling internal parasites. Also, NLM inclusion up to 1.0% in the diet of pullet chickens has no detrimental effect on the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
