Effects of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) on feed digestibility, growth performance and gut microbiota of broilers chickens

Antibiotics residues were reported to accumulate in animal farm products and equally develop resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of neem seeds oil as antibiotic substute on feed digestibility, growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of ۳۳۶ one-day-old Cobb ۵۰۰ chicks were randomly assigned to ۷ treatments replicated ۳ times with ۱۶ chicks each (۸ males, ۸ females). The experimental rations consisted of a control ration without supplementation (R۰), a positive control ration containing ۱ g antibiotic/kg feed (R۰+) and five other rations supplemented with ۱, ۲, ۴, ۶ and ۸ g of neem oil/kg feed respectively. No significant differences were observed on the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein at any oil level compared to the control rations. Following digestibility, the highest values of dry matter (۷۸.۵۳ ±۲.۵۴ %), organic matter (۸۳.۷۷ ± ۱.۱۴ %) and crude protein (۹۱.۲۸ ±۱.۱۵ %) were respectively recorded in animals fed ۶ g neem oil/kg feed. With the exception of birds fed ۱ g neem oil/kg feed, feed intake, live weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved with this oil as feed additive. The lowest FCR value (۲.۰۱ ± ۰.۰۳) was recorded with ۶ g neem oil/kg feed. Carcass characteristics were not significantly (P > ۰.۰۵) affected compared to the control ration. Neem oil induced an increase in Lactobacilli counts compared to Salmonella and Escherichia coli counts. In conclusion, neem oil at ۶ g/kg feed, improved feed palatability, stabilize gut microbiota thereby favoring a better absorption of nutrients and thus improve growth performance of broilers.Antibiotics residues were reported to accumulate in animal farm products and equally develop resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of neem seeds oil as antibiotic substute on feed digestibility, growth performance and gut microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of ۳۳۶ one-day-old Cobb ۵۰۰ chicks were randomly assigned to ۷ treatments replicated ۳ times with ۱۶ chicks each (۸ males, ۸ females). The experimental rations consisted of a control ration without supplementation (R۰), a positive control ration containing ۱ g antibiotic/kg feed (R۰+) and five other rations supplemented with ۱, ۲, ۴, ۶ and ۸ g of neem oil/kg feed respectively. No significant differences were observed on the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and crude protein at any oil level compared to the control rations. Following digestibility, the highest values of dry matter (۷۸.۵۳ ±۲.۵۴ %), organic matter (۸۳.۷۷ ± ۱.۱۴ %) and crude protein (۹۱.۲۸ ±۱.۱۵ %) were respectively recorded in animals fed ۶ g neem oil/kg feed. With the exception of birds fed ۱ g neem oil/kg feed, feed intake, live weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio were improved with this oil as feed additive. The lowest FCR value (۲.۰۱ ± ۰.۰۳) was recorded with ۶ g neem oil/kg feed. Carcass characteristics were not significantly (P > ۰.۰۵) affected compared to the control ration. Neem oil induced an increase in Lactobacilli counts compared to Salmonella and Escherichia coli counts. In conclusion, neem oil at ۶ g/kg feed, improved feed palatability, stabilize gut microbiota thereby favoring a better absorption of nutrients and thus improve growth performance of broilers.