Reproductive Performance of Male Breeder Chickens on Feeding of Neem Seed Kernel Meal

The commercially available neem seed kernel meal (NSKM) had been washed with tap water and then sun dried. The water-washed neem seed kernel meal (WWNSKM) was substituted (WAV) with groundnut cake at 0,10, or 20% level in a standard broiler breeder ration. Each of the three diets was offered as mash ad lib to fourteen male broiler chickens housed in individual cages from 21 to 32 wk of age. The water washing led to a substantial loss of DM (20%), but resulted into only minor changes in the chemical composition of NSKM. Feeding of WWNSKM to cockerals had no noticeable effect on growth. The semen ejaculate volume declined to almost half at 20% WWNSKM in diet. The fertility and hatchability as examined through artificially inseminating WL layers otherwise fed on standard layer mash with the semen from experimental birds also declined to the extent of 20%. It was inferred that the reproductive performance of broiler breeders may be adversely affected by the feeding of neem seed kernel meal.