EFFICACY OF HERBAL PRODUCTS (NEEM + MORINGA) ON THE PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF JAPANESE QUAIL

Abstract

The study evaluated the comparative efficacy of Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf powder on the productive performance, health status and egg quality of commercial layer Japanese quail. A total of 27-day-old 160 Japanese quails were reared in Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Farm, Dhaka. Birds were divided randomly into 5 experimental groups of 4 replications and each replication contains 8 birds. These groups were allotted to five treatment designated as T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , T 4 and T 5 Groups. T 1 was offered basal diet without any supplementation and served as a control. Whereas, group T 2 ,T 3 ,T 4 and T 5 were offered basal feed supplemented with Antibiotic, Neem + moringa – 1.2%, Neem + moringa – 1.0% and Neem + moringa – 0.75%, respectively. The results showed that the weekly feed consumption, live body weight, egg production by number and weight and % HDEP were highest in T 5 (Neem + moringa – 0.75%) and at the end of 7 week it were

(1.672±0.132, 1400 a ±8.20, 572 a ±2.60, 49.75 a ±2.287 and 86.90 a ±3.30, respectively)

compared to control and other treatments. Again, T 5 (Neem + moringa – 0.75%) showed lowest FCR (2.900 b ±0.108 at 7 th week) whereas T 4 (Neem + moringa – 1.0%) gave highest (3.525 a ±0.269 at 7 th week). Similarly, T 4 (Neem + moringa – 1.0%) showed highest survivability (100%) whereas the least (94.00 b th ±3.50) was from T 2 (Antibiotic). Regarding quality parameters of egg, the highest shape index, albumen

index and yolk index, was found from T 4 (Neem + moringa – 1.0%), T 3 (Neem + moringa – 1.2%) and T 2 (Antibiotic), respectively whereas T 2 (Antibiotic) showed higher haugh unit (93.77±1.163) and T 4 (Neem + moringa – 1.0%) showed higher yolk color fan (4.50±0.102) and T 1 (control) gave higher shell thickness (0.22±0.012). In

conclusion, it can be said that T can positively affect the productive and health status of broiler. In case of economic return, the highest gross return (Tk. 263.00), net return 5 (Tk. 67.50) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) (1.35) was recorded from supplementation treatment T 5 (Neem + moringa – 0.75%) whereas T 2 (Antibiotic) treatment gave lowest gross return (Tk. 247.00), net return (Tk. 48.50) and BCR (1.24).