Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oil on growth performance and blood haematological indices of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to assess the effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf powder (NLP) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oil (CNO) on the growth and haematological indices of broiler chickens. Four hundred twenty, day-old commercial Vencobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 6 groups of 7 replicates each. Dietary treatments were; T0 (control: basal diet), T1 (basal diet + 2 g/kg NLP), T2 (basal diet + 4 g/kg NLP), T3 (basal diet + 100 mg/kg CNO), T4 (basal diet + 200 mg/kg CNO) and T5 (basal diet + 2 g/kg NLP + 100 mg/kg CNO). Birds fed supplemented diets appeared to have enhanced average daily gain (ADG) and better FCR than birds of the control group. FCR was better in T3 and T5 groups in comparison to other groups. A significant (P<0.05) effect in terms of heterophils (%) and heterophil/ lymphocytes ratio was observed in birds of supplemented groups than control. It can culminate that supplementing CNO @ 100 mg/kg alone or in combination with NLP @ 2 g/kg has the knack to bolster the growth performance of broiler chickens with no adverse impact on the blood haematological profile of broiler chickens.