COMBINED EFFECT OF NEEM LEAVES AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ON GROWTH AND ANTICOCCIDIAL EFFECT IN BROILER

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the efficacy of neem leaves and apple cider vinegar on growth and anticoccidial effect in broiler. A total of 120-day old Indian River-Lohmann meat broiler chicks were divided into 4 experimental groups with 3 replicates as 10 chicks in each replication. One of the 4 experimental group fed normal diet without neem leaves and apple cider vinegar (ACV) was as control and the remaining three groups fed diet with neem leaves were T 1 (2g/Kg feed), apple cider vinegar (ACV) T 2 (5ml/L drinking water), combined neem leaves and apple cider vinegar (ACV) T 3 (2g/Kg feed & 5ml/L drinking water). During the experimental periods of 4 weeks, feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), flock uniformity, survivability & coccidial oocyst count were calculated. Growth performance parameters & coccidial oocyst count were significantly (P˂0.05) affected by experimental diets. Birds fed combined neem leaves and apple cider vinegar (ACV), T 3 gained superior body weights (1734.00±16.37g) compared to control (1581.00±9.54g), T 1 neem (1647.33±10.48g) and other dietary treatments. The mean body weight gains (g) at the 1st, 3rd and 4th week of different treatment groups were significantly higher (P˂0.05) than control group. The groups fed diets containing combined neem leaves and apple cider vinegar feed (T 3 ) had better FCR (1.32±0.01) compared to control (1.51±0.00). Highest (100%) survivability was found in T 3 group than control (90%) group. The inclusion of different dietary treatments had significant (P˂0.05) difference on coccidial oocyst count. However, T 3 group had the better (3.00±1.15) oocyst count compared to control (22.33±1.45). It is concluded that combined neem leaves & apple cider vinegar can be included in broiler diet for better performance with better FCR & lower coccidial oocyst count.