EFFECT OF FREQUENCY OF ADMINISTRATION OF NEEM (Azadirachta indica) LEAF AQUEOUS EXTRACT ON HAEMATOLOGICAL AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

A 56-dy experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of administration of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf aqueous heat treated extract on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty one week-old broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were weighed and randomly distributed to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. There were thirty birds in each treatment. The birds in treatment A were given vaccination and conventional drugs without neem leaf aqueous extract (NLAE) (control). Birds in treatment B were given vaccination and 10ml of NLAE in 4days interval without conventional drugs, while birds in treatments C, D and E were given 10ml of NLAE in 4, 5 and 6 days interval, respectively with the required vaccination and conventional drugs. The birds al the treatments were with fed the same starter and finisher diets ad-libitum. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. Blood constituents were determined using standard haematological and serum biochemical procedures. The results revealed that administration of NLAE at 10ml per 250ml of water at 4,5, and 6days interval significantly (P<0.05) influenced the concentrations of haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), lymphocytes (LY) and platelets (PL). The Hb, PCV, RBC, WBC and LY concentrations reduced with the administration of 10ml NLAE at 4, 5 and 6days interval, while MCV and PL had the highest concentrations at 6days interval. The least concentrations of Hb, PC V and RBC were at 6 days interval of NLAE administration. The total serum protein (TSP), albumin (AB, globulin (Bd). cholesterol (CM), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and urea (UR) concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) - influenced by the administration of NLAE at 4, 5, and 6days interval. Administration of 10ml NLAE per 250ml of water at 5 and 6days interval reduced the concentration of CH by 13.94 and 14.59% respectively. Broiler chickens can be administered 10ml NLAE per 250ml of water at 4-5 days interval for adequate blood formation and reduction of CH level.