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Subject: Animal Nutrition × Author: Bhanu Prakash × End date: 2024 × Start date: 2020 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of dietary inclusion of neem (Azadirachta indica) LEAF powder as feed additive on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits and haemato-biochemical parameters of Japanese quail
    (G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand), 2022-06) Bhanu Prakash; Mondal, B.C.
    A feeding trial was conducted to discern the effect of dietary inclusion of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder as feed additive on growth performance, nutrient utilization, carcass traits, haematobiochemical parameters, sensory evaluation of meat, immunological properties and economics of Japanese quail production. A total of 144, day-old Japanese quail chicks were divided randomly into 4 treatment groups with 3 replicates each i.e. 12 Japanese quail chicks per replicate. Chicks of treatment T1 (control) were fed basal diet (starter and finisher), whereas in treatment groups T2, T3 and T4, the basal diet was incorporated with 0.25%, 0.50% and 1.00% neem leaf powder, respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 42 days viz., 0-21 days (starter phase) and 21-42 days (finisher phase). A metabolism trial was conducted during the 6th week of feeding trial. On 42nd day of the feeding trial six birds from each treatment were slaughtered for study of carcass characteristics (organ weights, cut-up parts and processing losses) and samples of breast and thigh muscle were collected for sensory and proximate analysis. Blood samples were also collected on the same day for haemato- biochemical parameters from 24 birds comprising 6 birds per treatment. During the starter phase (0-21 days), significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake was recorded in birds of treatment group T2 (0.25% neem leaf powder supplemented group) and T3 (0.5% neem leaf powder supplemented group) as compared to T4 (1% neem leaf powder supplemented group) however, non-significant alterations were seen in T1, T2 and T3 as well as in T1 and T4. Similarly, in finisher phase (21-42 days) significantly (P<0.05) higher feed intake was recorded in Japanese quail of treatment T2 and T3 as compared to T4 however, non-significant alterations were seen in T1, T2 and T3 as well as in T1 and T4. It was observed that supplementation of neem leaf powder improved performance of Japanese quail in terms of body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and performance index. Similarly, during the whole experimental period (0-42 days) also, supplementation of neem leaf powder improved performance of Japanese quail in terms of body weight gain and performance index. Final body weight was maximum in the T2 (195.06 g) followed by T3 (189.67 g), T1 (186.33 g) and T4 (182.83 g). Inclusion of neem leaf powder at varying levels did not affect nutrient utilization in terms of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and crude protein utilization. The various carcass traits and sensory attributes were not affected due to dietary supplementation of neem leaf powder. The crude protein, ether extract and total ash content of thigh and breast muscle did not differ significantly on supplementation of neem leaf powder at varying levels. The haematological parameters showed no significant difference among the groups supplemented with varying level of neem leaf powder. There was a significant reduction in serum cholesterol in the group fed 1% neem leaf powder (T4) as compared to control group (T1) however, non-significant alterations were seen in T2, T3 and T1 groups. Blood glucose concentration reduced significantly in T4 group as compared to T1 and T2 groups however, non-significant alterations were seen in T1, T2 and T3 as well as in T3 and T4. The concentration of serum triglycerides, total protein, albumin and globulin showed no significant difference among any treatment group. The concentration of liver enzymes (ALT and ALP) decreased significantly in T4 (1 percent neem leaf supplemented group) as compared to T1 (control group) however, non-significant alterations were seen in T2 and T3 groups. AST concentration of T4 group decreased significantly as compared to T1, T2 and T3 groups in which results were statistically similar. The concentration of serum immunoglobulin of 1% neem leaf powder supplemented birds was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to control group however, non-significant alterations were seen in T2 and T3 groups. It can be concluded that neem leaf powder supplementation in the basal diet reduce serum cholesterol, glucose and liver enzymes such as ALT, AST and ALP whereas it increases total immunoglobulins and growth performance of the birds and highest level of reduction in cholesterol, glucose and liver enzymes and increase in total immunoglobulins was noticed in diets supplemented with 1.00 percent neem leaf powder though it showed a reduction in growth performance.