Performance and Economic Characteristics of Broilers Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Neem Leaf Meal (Azadirachta indica)

Abstract: The performance and economic indices of broilers fed varying dietary levels of sun dried Neem Leaf Meal (NLM) were investigated using ninety ‘Ross ’ unsexed two weeks old broilers. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment groups of eighteen birds each in which NLM was incorporated at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 % for treatments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Each treatment was further replicated twice with nine birds per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that treatment effect on Average Final Body Weight (AFBW), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Average Daily Feed Intake [ADFI] and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were significant (P<0.05). Birds on the 0.5 % NLM had significantly (P<0.05) superior AFBW, ADG and FCR. ADFI of birds on the 0.5 % NLM was statistically the same with the control birds but differed from the rest treatments on NLM. Gross margin analysis reveals that a profit of N707.30 is made per bird on the 0.5 % NLM as against N630.97, N620.73, N621.81 and N507.06 for birds on the control, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % NLM respectively. It is concluded that inclusion of 0.5 % NLM in the diets of broilers will support optimum performance and economic benefit. Key words: Performance, broilers, neem lea