Performance and carcass characteristics of guinea fowl fed on dietary Neem [Azadirachta indica] leaf powder as a growth promoter

ABSTRACT

The present work aimed at studying growth pattern and carcass traits in pearl grey guinea fowl fed on dietary Neem [Azadirachta indica] leaf powder [NLP] over a period of 12 weeks. Day old guinea fowl keets [n=120] were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, each with 3 replicates. The first treatment was designated as control [T[0]] in which no supplement was added to the feed, while in treatments T[1], T[2] and T[3], NLP was provided as 1, 2 and 3 g per kg of feed, respectively. The results revealed a significant increase in body weight at 12 weeks; 1229.7 for T[1], 1249.8 for T[2], and 1266.2 g T[3] compared to 1220.0 g for the control group [P<0.05]. The results also showed that the supplementation of NLP significantly increased feed intake [Pfeeding NLP to the treated groups has lowered their residual feed efficiency. The results of the study demonstrate the beneficial effects of supplementing NLP on body weight gain and dressed yield in the treated groups in guinea fowl. NLP is, therefore, suggested to be used as a feed supplement in guinea fowl for higher profitability