Comparative effect-of-azadirachta-indica-moringa-oleifera-and-cichorium-intybus-leaf-extracts

1. Scholar’s Advances in Animal and Veterinary Research, 3(2): 60-65
ISSN(p): 2409-5281
ISSN(e): 2410-1540
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Research Article
Comparative Effect of Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and
Cichorium intybus Leaf Extracts on Growth Performance, Immune Response and
Carcass Characteristics of Broilers
Khawar Hayat, Sultan Mahmood, Muhammad Yousaf and Ghulam Abbas*
Department of Poultry Science, University of agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: ghulamabbas_hashmi@yahoo.com
ARTICLE HISTORY
Received: April 20, 2016
Revised: May 10, 2016
Accepted: May 29, 2016
Key Words:
Broiler
Immune response
Azadirachta indica
Moringa oleifera
Cichorium intybus
A B S T R A C T
The intent of this study was to investigate the comparative effect of
Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaf
extracts on growth performance, immune response and carcass
characteristics of broilers. In this study 180, day old broiler chicks
were taken and raised together for a week as adaptation period. At
8th
day, 120 birds having middle weight range were selected for the
experiment. These birds were randomly divided into four
experimental groups A, B, C and D. Each group was further divided
into three replicates (10 chicks/ replicate). Group A was offered
drinking water without any supplementation (control). Whereas
groups B, C and D were offered drinking water supplemented
with leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and
Cichorium intybus @ 50 mL L!1
, 30 mL L!1
and 10 mL L!1
,
respectively. Results of the study showed that the birds given water
supplemented with Azadirachta indica leaf extract (group B)
exhibited better performance, immune response and some carcass
characteristics along with increased profit margin when compared to
all other treated or control groups. Therefore, it was concluded that
All copyright reserved to Mr.Scholar
To Cite This Article:Mahmood, S., K. Hayat, M. Yousaf, G. Abbas*
and A. Rehman, 2016. Comparative
effect of Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaf extracts on growth performance,
immune response and carcass characteristics of broilers. Scholar’s Adv. Anim. Vet. Res., 3(2): 60-65.
60

2. Scholar’s Adv. Anim. Vet. Res., 2016, 3(2): 60-65.
Azadirachta indica leaf extract was an inexpensive
but efficient herbal growth promoter to improve
broiler performance without any residual or harmful
effects.
INTRODUCTION
Broiler meat is a good source of animal protein
and is available at cheaper rate in our country.
However, its availability is being affected due to
rapid increase in human population, prevalence of
diseases, poor feed quality, price issues and
management problems, which are putting brakes on
the production performance of broilers. This
situation can be improved either by increasing the
number of birds or by improving their production
performance. Poultry farmers are using antibiotics
growth promoters to improve production efficiency
of broilers. However, indiscriminate use of
antibiotics is exerting negative effects on birds such
as bacterial resistance and drug toxicity due to their
residual effects (Hernandez et al., 2006). That’s why
the use of antibiotics in poultry feed has been
already banned by the European Union since 2006
(Anonymous, 2011). Consequently animal scientists
are trying to replace antibiotic with herbal medicinal
plants as growth promoters (Ogbe and Affiku,
2013).
Many herbal plants are being used in poultry
feeds as growth promoters, antibacterial, anti-
parasitic, anti-coocidial, anti-fungal, anti-tumor and
immune-booster in poultry diets (Subapriya and
Nagini, 2005). These plants include Allium sativum,
Zingiber officinale, Mentha piperita, Azadirachta
indica, Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus
(Ansari et al., 2008 and Nidullah et al., 2010).
Among these plants Azadirachta indica (neem),
Moringa oleifera (moringa) and Cichorium intybus
(Chicory) have been used in poultry feed as
supplements. These plants have numerous
medicinal properties such as anti-bacterial and
growth promoters. Azadirachta indica stimulate
immune system and also has antibacterial, antiviral,
anti-microbial and antifungal properties
(Subapriya and Nagini, 2005).
Moringa Oleifera is being used as growth
promoter to improve broiler performance because of
its good nutritional profile (Portugaliza and
Fernandez, 2011). It can also be used as immuno-
stimulant, antimicrobial and as an antibiotic
replacer.
Cichorium intybus also has valuable ingredients
such as mucilage and resins (Kalantari and
Rastmanesh, 2009). Chicorium intybus plant
especially its leaves have many medicinal properties
such as antibacterial, antifungal and immune-
stimulant (Nandagopal and Rangita, 2007).
Based upon the information mentioned in the
text above Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and
Cichorium intybus are potential candidates as
growth promoter to replace antibiotics. However,
scientific information regarding their comparative
effect on broiler performance is still scanty.
Therefore, a research project was planned to assess
the comparative effect of Azadirachta indica,
Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaf
extracts on growth performance, immune response
and carcass characteristics of broilers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Extractspreparation:Azadirachtaindica,Moringa
oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaves were
collected, dried under shade and sliced without
washing for making leaf powder. After that, the leaf
powder was added into distilled water @ 4 g, 6 g
and 2 g 100 mL!1
, respectively and extracted at
80°C for 3 h at pH 7. Prepared extract was filtered
and then cooled to room temperature in 48 h.
Plan of work: The research project was executed at
Dr. Raja Muhammad Akram Animal Nutrition
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3. Scholar’s Adv. Anim. Vet. Res., 2016, 3(2): 60-65.
Research Center, Institute of Animal Nutrition and
Feed Technology, University of Agriculture,
Faisalabad. Experimental room was thoroughly
cleaned, white washed, disinfected and fumigated
before arrival of chicks. The birds in each replicate
were reared in separate pens measuring 4×3 sq.ft.
All birds were kept under the same managemental
conditions like temperature, relative humidity,
ventilation, light and floor space, throughout the
experiment.
One hundred eighty, day old broiler chicks were
purchased from a local hatchery and raised together
for a week as adaptation period. After adaptation
period all the birds were weighed individually
and 120 birds having middle weight range were
selected for experiment. These birds were randomly
divided into four experimental groups designated as
A, B, C and D. There will be 30 chicks in each
group which were further divided into three
replicates (10 chicks/replicate). Group A were
offered drinking water without any supplementation
(control). Whereas, group B, C and D were offered
water supplemented with the herbal extracts of
Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and
Cichorium intybus (extracted separately in distilled
water at pH 7) @ 50, 30 and 10 mL L!1
,
respectively. Two commercial rations were
prepared and offered to the chicks (starter 0-3 and
finisher 4-5 weeks of age) ad libitum (Table 1).
The birds were vaccinated against Newcastle
disease (ND) at the age of day 5 and then at day 22
and Infectious Bursal disease at day 10 and again at
day 18.
Performance data on initial body weight, weekly
body weight, weekly feed consumption and
mortality, if any, were collected. The data collected
were used to calculate the weight gain and feed
conversion ratio of the birds. Blood samples were
taken (2 birds/replicate) at 28th
and 32nd
days of age
to determine antibodytiters against Infectious Bursal
disease and Newcastle disease, respectively (MAFF,
1984).
Table 1: Proportion and chemical compositions of ingredients used in
experimental rations
Ingredients Starter Ration (%) Finisher Ration (%)
Maize 36 35
Wheat 10 10
Rice polish 5 5
Rice broken 5 8
Wheat bran 3 6
Guar meal 3 2
S.F.M 6 5
C.G 60% 6 5
S.B.M 10 10
Fish meal 8 6
Soya oil 3 3
Molasses 3 3
Lime stone 1.16 1.16
DCP 0.167 0.167
Pre-mix 0.5 0.5
Salt 0.173 0.173
Total 100 100
Chemical composition
C.P 22% 20%
M.E 3100 Kcal Kg!1
3000 Kcal Kg!1
C.F 4.18% 4.55%
At the end of trial 2 birds/replicate were
slaughtered for their carcass characteristics i.e. live
weight, dressed weight, breast weight, thigh weight,
organ weight (liver, heart and gizzard) and weight of
abdominal fat.
Statistical analysis: Data collected was subjected to
statistical analysis using Analysis of Variance
Technique under Completely Randomized Design.
Treatment means were compared by Least
Significant Difference (Steel et al., 1997) test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Growth performance: Statistical analysis of the
data revealed improved growth performance of
broilers due to the addition of Azadirachta indica,
Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaf
extracts in drinking water (Table 2). The highest
feed consumption and body weight gain was
observed in the birds of group B followed by those
of group C, D and A (control). The data regarding
feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed that the most
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4. Scholar’s Adv. Anim. Vet. Res., 2016, 3(2): 60-65.
Table 2: Effect of supplementing Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera
and Cichorium intybus leaf extracts in water on body weight,
feed consumption and feed conversion ratio of broilers
Treatment
----------------------------------------------------
Variables A B C D S.E
Initial body weight (g)` 188 184 185 186
Final body weight (g) 1837b
2034a
1972a
1951ab
41.30
Weight gain (g) 1632b
1858a
1786a
1764a
40.91
Feed consumption (g) 3394b
3578a
3475ab
3415b
41.24
Feed conversion ratio 1.85b
1.74a
1.78a
1.75a
0.24
Values within the same row which have different superscripts are
significantly different (P<0.05)
efficient FCR was observed in the birds of treatment
group B followed by those of group D, C and A
(control). These findings are compatible with those
observed by Nidaullah et al. (2010), Portugaliza and
Fernandez (2012) and Sarwar (2013) who reported
improved growth performance of broilers offered
drinking water supplemented with Azadirachta
indica Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus leaf
extracts, respectively and contrasting with those
observed by Wanker et al. (2009) who reported non-
significant improvement in growth performance of
broilersoffered feed supplemented with Azadirachta
indica leaf powder.
Immune response: Leaf extracts of Azadirachta
indica, Moringa oleifera and Cichorium intybus
when supplemented in drinking water showed better
antibody titer against ND and IBD in broilers of all
treated groups when compared to those of control
group (Table 3). The highest antibody titer against
ND and IBD observed in the birds of treatment
group B, D, C and A. The higher level of antibody
titer against ND and IBD in birds of group B may
probably be due to antiviral properties of
Azadirachta indica (Subapriya and Nagini, 2005)
which might have reduced the pathogenic load and
immune stress because of reduction in pathogens
and thus helped in boosting immunity. These
findings are in line with those observed by
Durrani et al. (2008) and Nidaullah et al. (2010)
who reported that better antibody titer against
Table 3: Effect of supplementing Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera
and Cichorium intybus leaf extracts in drinking water on
geometric mean values of the antibody titers against
Newcastle disease (ND) and Infectious Bursal disease (IBD)
of broilers
Treatment
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Variables A B C D S.E
ND 106.67b
234.67a
160ab
213.33a
17.816
IBD 45b
106.67a
85.33ab
96a
8.996
Values within the same row which have different superscripts are
significantly different (P<0.05)
Table 4: Dressing percentage, breast meat yield, thigh meat yield,
relative weight of giblets (liver, heart and gizzard) and
abdominal fat of broilers offered drinking water supplemented
with Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and Cichorium
intybus leaf extracts
Treatment
-----------------------------------------------------------
Variables A B C D S.E
Dressing (%) 64.79b
68.76a
64.94b
67.15ab
0.605
Breast (%) 21.74b
25.42a
21.88b
22.48b
0.536
Thigh (%) 20.20 22.17 19.34 20.37 0.545
Liver 2.39 2.97 2.83 2.42 0.114
Heart 0.45 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.022
Gizzard 1.50b
1.74a
1.76a
1.56b
0.039
Abdominal fat (%) 3.17 3.14 3.09 2.92 0.040
Values within the same row which have different superscripts are
significantly different (P<0.05)
ND and IBD in the birds offered drinking water
supplemented with Azadirachta indica leaf extract
and contrasting with Landy et al. (2011) who
reported that there was a non-significant difference
in antibody titer against Newcastle disease in birds
offered diet supplemented with Azadirachta indica
fruit powder.
Carcass characteristics: Supplementation of
Azadirachtaindica,MoringaoleiferaandCichorium
intybus leaf extracts in drinking water showed better
effect on dressing percentage, breast meat yield and
relative weight of gizzard. However a no marked
improvement was observed regarding relative
weights of thigh meat, giblets (liver, heart and
gizzard) and abdominal fat (Table 4). The higher
dressing percentage may be due to high body weight
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5. Scholar’s Adv. Anim. Vet. Res., 2016, 3(2): 60-65.
gain, higher breast meat yield may be due to more
muscle deposition at breast region and high
relative liver weight may be due to more feed
consumption which might be responsible for
increase in size and weight of gizzard. These
findings are compatible with those observed by
Zanu et al. (2011) who observed better dressing
percentage in broilers by using Azadirachta indica
decoction (Zanu et al., 2001) and contrasting with
Ayssiwede (2011) who found non-significant
difference regarding dressing percentage in the
birds using Moringa oleifera leaf meal in feed
(Ayssiwede et al., 2011).
CONCLUSIONS
The use of Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera
and Cichorium intybus leaf extracts in drinking
water revealed better performance in broilers in
respect of feed consumption, body weight gain and
efficiency of feed utilization, better immune
response and carcass characteristic including
dressing %, breast meat yield and relative gizzard
weight. All these factors are specifically involved in
fetching better profit margin.
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