Performance of broilers and rabbits given diets containing full fat neem (Azadirachta indica) seed meal

Abstract

Experiments were carried out to establish the suitability of full fat neem seed meal (FFNSM) in broiler and growing rabbit diets. In the broiler experiment, 200-day-old (Babcock) broiler chicks were used in a 10-week trial, with the FFNSM fixed at 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100 g/kg diet. In the rabbit experiment 24 rabbits of three different breeds were used in an 8-week trial, with the FFNSM fixed at 0 (control), 100, 200 and 300 g/kg diet. The criteria of response were food intake, weight gain, food conversion and protein efficiency ratio and mortality. There was a significant (P < 0·05) negative correlation between the dietary inclusion of FFNSM, weight gain and food conversion efficiency of the birds in the starter phase. In the finisher phase from 5 to 10 weeks, food intake, weight gain, food conversion and protein efficiency ratio did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between the birds on the control diet and diets containing up to 75 g FFNSM per kg. For all the measurements, rabbits on the diet with 100 g FFNSM per kg gave better results than the control. Food intake, weight gain, food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratio did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between rabbits on control diet and the diet containing 200 g FFNSM per kg. Performance on the diet with 300 g FFNSM per kg was poorest.