Nutrition A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD

Impact of Neem Leaf Meal as a

Feed Supplement in Poultry
Dr. Gayathri S. Lal1. and Dr. Arun Kumar Panda2
1Department of Livestock Production and Management,
College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar
Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha-751003
2Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIWA,Bhubaneswar,Odisha-751003

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 A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD

“ Neem leaf meal (NLM) is an ideal

candidate for the poultry industry to make
their production economically viable and
environmentally sustainable.

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 Nutrition A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD
Background Azadirachta indica (Neem) belongs to the fam-
ily Meliaceae, a tropical evergreen tree which is
Poultry is one among the fastest growing sectors widely distributed in Asia, Australia, Africa and
of India. Chicken contributes the lion’s share to other parts of the world. Neem, a fast growing
poultry production in India owing to 95% of the tree, grows in an extensive array of soils and it is
total egg production. Feed cost accounts for 65- a robust tree which can flourish in poor dry soils
70% of total cost of production in broilers and without irrigation. Neem tree is also known as
75-80% for layers. Majority of the population in the nature’s gift to mankind,the tree for many
India still subsists in villages and they are getting occasions, the tree of the 21st century and a tree
access only to 25% of total poultry products as for solving global problems.
commercial poultry farming is limited to urban
and semi urban areas. In this context, the major The short, usually straight trunk has a moder-
setback of high feeding cost for the small scale ately thick, strongly furrowed bark that has a
farmers in the villages, keeping handful of the garlic-likeodour and a bitter, astringent taste.
birds require a boost up. The Neem plant is rarely leafless and is usually
in full foliage even during months of prolonged
Poultry products and its by-products have tre- drought. It is grown from the southern tip of
mendous potential to enhance the nutrient sta- Kerala to the Himalayan hills, in tropical to
bility in any household, be it in rural or urban subtropical regions, in semi-arid to wet tropical
areas. Thus, economic cum healthy production regions, and from sea level to about 700 metres
of these little birds obliges and Neem is an ideal (NRC, 1992).
choice for it. Neem, a large evergreen fast grow-
ing perennial tree is having medicinal as well Why Neem?
as nutritive value for poultry. Neem leaves have
been found to be useful in relieving pain, fevers, Neem is one of the very few shade-giving trees
infections and other complaints that it has been that thrive in drought-prone areas. In India,
called the “village pharmacy”. Neem trees are been commonly used for shade
lining streets, around temples, schools and other
Scientific studies showed that the inclusion of such public buildings or in most people’s back
neem leaf meal in the diet of broilers, layers and yards, both in urban and rural areas. Neem
other birds showed significant enhancement in products have been used in India for over two
their immunity, decreased cholesterol levels and millennia for their medicinal properties. Neem
increased body weight gain. Also, neem leaves contains a vast array of biologically active com-
can be used as an alternative to the antibiotic pounds which are chemically diverse and struc-
growth promoter in the poultry ration. Hence- turally complex. Biologically active principles
forth, it’s high time that poultry industry must isolated from different parts of the plant in-
explore to include Neem as a feed supplement clude: azadirachtin, meliacin, gedunin, salanin,
in the ration. nimbin, valassin and many other derivatives of
these principles.
Introduction
Miliacin forms the bitter principles of its leaves
Poultry Industry, one of the major role players (NRC, 1992). These compounds belong to nat-
of Livestock sector, having the highest growth ural products called triterpenoids (Limonoids).
rate is facing one set back ahead their ultimate The active principles are slightly hydrophilic,
success, i.e. growing feed cost. The annual egg but freely lipophilic and highly soluble in organ-
production, the per capita availability of eggs ic solvents like, hydrocarbon, alcohols, ketones
per annum and growth rate of egg production and esters (NRC, 1992). Various parts of the tree
has reached 88139 million, 69 eggs, and 6.28%, have medicinal value. Also Neem possesses pro-
respectively in the year 2016-17 (AHS series-18) tolimonoids, tetranortriterpenoids, pentanor-
in India. Also, the consumeristic health con- tri-terpenoids, hexanortriterpenoids, and some
scious societies of the modern day are looking non terpenoid. Neem leaves exhibit immuno-
forward for the intake of low antibiotic residue modulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihypergly-
items in their menu. In this context, Neem leaf caemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, an-
meal (NLM) is an ideal candidate for the poul- tibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic
try industry to make their production economi- and anticarcinogenic properties. Owing to these
cally viable and environmentally sustainable. properties, neem leaf meal has been tried as a

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 Nutrition A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD
feed additive in animals. An abundantly avail- tics such as anti-inflammatory, hypolipidaemic,
able biopolymer, Chitosan in combination with immunostimulant, hepatoprotective and hypo-
neem leaf meal can be supplemented in the diet glycaemic effects. Being accepted by consum-
of broiler chickens to reduce the abdominal fat. ers as natural additives, phytogenic and herbal
products have received increased attention in
In non-pesticidal management (NPM), neem the recent years. Earliest ayurvedic literature
is a key ingredient providing a natural alterna- refers to the benefits of all parts of neem tree
tive to synthetic pesticides. Also, it acts as an including fruit, leaf, bark, flower and root.
anti-feedant, repellent, and egg-laying deter-
rent, protecting the crop from damage. Neem Neem – An Alternative
cake is often sold as a fertilizer. Azadirachtina
chemical in neem has positive effects on pests, Health conscious consumeristic society asso-
and deformental effects on viruses, mites, fungal ciate diet with the probability of experiencing
pathogens, plant parasitic nematodes, intestinal health problems or diseases. The growth and
worms, bacteria, molluscs, and protozoan para- expansion of the poultry industry is confronted
sites such as coccidian species (NRC, 1992). On- by high cost of feed and drugs and their occa-
going research studies at ICAR- CIWA revealed sional shortages. However, there is the fear that
that Neem is an ideal candidate to substitute an- the reckless and continuous sub-therapeutic use
tibiotics in the poultry ration. of in-feed antibiotics could lead to the develop-
ment of antibiotic resistant bacteria, which is
Medicinal Properties of Neem harmful to human beings.

Siddha and Ayurvedic practitioners claims that Thus, efforts have been made in different parts
neem and its products are said to be having an- of the world to ban the inclusion of all types
thelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacteri- of antibiotic growth promoters in animal feeds.
al, antiviral, contraceptive, and sedative. Neem The utilization of leaf meal feed ingredient as
leaves have also been used to treat skin diseases alternative is not new but the inclusion level at
like eczema, psoriasis;leprosy, eye disorders, various ages and physiological conditions varies.
bloody nose, intestinal worms, stomach upset, The green plants have long been acknowledged
loss of appetite, skin ulcers, diseases of the heart as the inexpensive and most copious impend-
and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), fe- ing source of proteins because of their capacity
ver, diabetes, gum disease (gingivitis), and liver to produce amino acids from a wide range of
problems. The leaf is also used for birth control fundamentally boundless and readily available
and to cause abortions.The bark is used for ma- primary materials. However the inclusion of an-
laria, stomach and intestinal ulcers, skin diseas- tibiotics in livestock rations as feed additives is
es, pain, and fever. being discouraged because of the negative effect
on the animals and the humans who consume
The flower is used for reducing bile, controlling the final animal products (HCWH, 2005).
phlegm, and treating intestinal worms.The A.
indica leaf exhibits a wide range of pharma- Thus, there is the need to appraise potential anti-
cological activities viz., antiinflammatory, an- biotic alternatives to improve disease resistance
ti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcer, anti-malarial, an- in intensive food animal production. Neem, ow-
ti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-oxidant, ing to its wide range of beneficial effects can be
anti-mutagenic anti-carcinogenic, immunomod- substituted for Antibiotics in the poultry ration.
ulatory and various other properties without Furthermore, scientists and researchers are try-
showing any adverse effects. Azadirachtaindica ing to combat against fatal diseases in poultry
leaves also contain compounds with proven an- through the use of medicinal plants, containing
timicrobial activity. the most active ingredients to promote growth,
weight gain and immune-stimulant.
The antimicrobial activity of extracts of neem
leaves against such micro-organisms as Staph- Composition of Neem leaf meal
ylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp.,Pseudomo-
nas spp. and Escherichia coli, and some fungal The nutrient composition of Neem leaf meal
strains have been reported (Valarmathy et al., is 9% moisture, 20.52% crude protein (CP);
2010). The extract of the Neem leaf is reported 16.45%crude fibre (CF); 4.25% ether extract
to possess diverse pharmacological characteris- (EE); 7.00%total ash and 42.78% nitrogen free

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 Nutrition A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD

extract (NFE). Leafmeal contained macro min- in broilers and reported better results in terms of
erals (per cent) that is Ca (0.71), P (0.28), Mg weight gain.
(0.75), Na (0.58) and K (2.00) and micromin-
erals (ppm) that is Cu (34), Zn (18), Fe (745), Studies showed that the supplementing
Co(10), Mn (60), Cr (0.8) and Pb (27) (Ansari neem leaf powder @ 1-2g/kg in the ration
et al., 2012). significantly improved the body weight gain and
FCR in broilers. The rise in weight gain is due
Supplemental effect of Neem leaf meal on to the presence of macro and micro minerals in
Poultry A. indica leaf meal. The higher body weight
gain in broilers consuming leaf meal could also
Extensive researches have been carried out in be due to its appetite and digestion stimulating,
chickens about the supplemental effect of neem anti-bacterial and hepato-protective properties,
leaf meal. Studies reported that broilers fed diets which aid to lessen the microbial load of birds
supplemented with 2.5 g/kg of Neem leaf meal and enhanced the feed consumption and feed
had significantly greater body weight, highest efficiency of the birds indicating Neem as an
dressing percentage, improved feed efficiency at ideal substitute to the existing antibiotic growth
28 and 42 days of age. The daily weight gain at promoter. Further studies revealed a signifi-
42 days of age was improved from 3.61 to 8.96% cant progress in relative weight (liver, heart and
in broilers fed diet supplemented with leaf meal gizzard) when adding the neem leaves powder
than antibiotic (Ansari et al., 2012). Also, Neem to drinking water by 40 ml/l.The greater bursa
leaf meal fed to broilers gave live performance and thymus weight in birds supplemented leaf
levels similar to those of the antibioticgrowth meal suggests that leaf meal supported these
promoter and observed improvements of 8.1% lymphoid organs. The leaf meal potentiated
in daily gain and 7.7% in feed conversion ratios immune response in the experimental broilers
in 17-day-old poults. Tipu et al. (2002) reported and caused a marked increase in the weight of
similar effects, where he used salinomycine and lymphoid organs (Ansari et al., 2012).
A. indica fruit as feed additive and anti-coccidial

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 Nutrition A G R I C U LT U R E WO R LD
Serum and tissue cholesterol levels were tration of Hb in birds fed diets of leaf meal is
observed to decrease progressively with increas- due to hepato-stimulatory and hepatoprotective
ing dietary levels of A. indica leaf meal. This effects of leaf meal resulting in the synthesis of
reduction in serum cholesterol level of broilers more Hb in the bone marrow which is under
fed leaf meal diets possibly propose a general the control of erythropoietic factors released by
decrease in lipid mobilisation. This is due to the hepatic cells. Nutritional factors affect the blood
indirect inhibitory effects exerted by the neem profiles of birds and this implies that up to 2.5%
leaf meal at the levels of HMG-CoA reductase, inclusion of leaf meal had a positive effect on
a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. This the relative quantity of blood cell as well as total
suggests that leaf meal diets were capable of volume of blood.
dropping serum cholesterol, thereby helping to
reduce the deposition of cholesterol in the skin Serum proteins are involved in transport of im-
and muscles. This correspondingly indicates that portant body substances, and maintenance of
A.indica leaf meal should be used to produce normal distribution of water between blood and
animal product with reduced cholesterol con- tissues through osmotic pressure. Serum protein
tent. content were found to be elevated in birds fed
leaf meal at 2.5% levels (Ansari et al., 2012).
The reduction in total cholesterol in serum Also, studies revealed an increase in yellow-
reflects the hypocholesterolemic properties ish colour of cockerel shanks, deeper egg yolk
accredited to the defatted part of the leaves colour, and increased hen-day egg production
which are rich in fibrous content and may with increase in Neem Leaf Meal inclusion.
block intestinal cholesterol absorption.The liver
functioning, after the supplementing of neem Conclusion
leaf meal was studied and the decreased
activities of SGOT, SGPT and ALP in serum Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem,
evidenced the positive effect of leaf meal on has attracted worldwide attention in recent
liver parenchyma of the birds. Scientists verified years, owing to its wide range of medicinal
that A.indica leaf meal is a promising hepato- properties. Based on the research studies carried
protective agent and this protective activity of out, it may be concluded that Neem leaf meal
leaf meal is due to its anti-oxidant and normali- can be included in the diets of broiler chicks up
sation of impaired membrane function activity. to 2.5 g/kg without any deleterious effects on
their performance, serum biochemical constitu-
Also, the A. indica leaves contained quercetin ents and haematological indices.
and rutin compounds which are extensively
studied bioflavonoid in the class of flavonols. The use of antibiotics in boilers should be dis-
It is well-established that quercetin, one of the couraged and can be replaced with Neem leaf
most abundant flavonoids, is a more powerful meal. Moreover, the dietary supplementation of
anti-oxidant than the other anti-oxidant nutri- Neem leaf meal may lead to the development
ents such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and β -car- of low-cholesterol chicken meat as demanded
otene. The maximum tolerance level of Neem by health-conscious consumers. Also, neem leaf
leaf meal 10% in starter broilers but 15% in lay- meal can be used as an alternative by the poultry
ing birds. The proximate composition of neem sector for antibiotics.
leaf meal indicated it as a good source of pro- References
tein with crude protein values range of 18.10- 1. Ansari, J. Z., ul-Haq, A., Yousaf, M., Ahmad, T. and Khan, S.
(2008). Evaluation of Different Medicinal Plants as Growth Promot-
20.68%. The bioactive principles in Neem leaf ers for Broiler Chicks, Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 24(2):323-330.
meal can be reduced by sun drying. Shihab 2. National Research Council (NRC), 1992. Neem: A Tree for Solv-
et al., 2017 reported that Neem leaf powder sup- ing Global Problems. National Academy Press, Washington D.C
3. Shihab,I. M., Mushtaq, T. B., AL-Zuhariy, Sameer Mezher
plemented @ 2g/kg had a positive role to im- Abdullah and Shamaael, S. M.(2017). Impact of supplementation
prove immunity against Newcastle Disease and Neem powder( Azadirachtaindica) to diet broiler in immunological,
physiological and productive traits Advances in Environmental
Infectious Bursal Disease and the qualities of Biology, 11(3): 44-51
productivity and physiological for broiler chicks. 4. Tipu, M. A., Pasha, T. N. and Zulfaqar. (2002). Comparative effect
of salinomycine sodium and Neem fruit (A. indica) as feed additive
anticoccidials in broilers. International Journal of Poultry Sciences,
Haematological parameters indicates the physi- 1(4):91-93.
5. Valarmathy, K., Gokulakrishnan, Salma, K.M., &Kusum D. P.
ological status of birds and its deviation can be (2010), A Study of Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of
utilized in assessing the response of birds to var- Various Plant Leaves Against Selected Microbial Species. Interna-
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