Haematological Characteristics of Broiler Birds Administered Neem Leaf (Azadirachta indica) and Pawpaw leaf (Carica papaya) Leaf Extracts
Abstract
One hundred and twenty (120) broilers birds of Abore acere breed were used to determine the effect of pawpaw leaf and neem leaf extracts on the haematological profile of broilers birds. The chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments with 30 birds in each treatment. Each treatment was replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment 1 received only vaccine and drugs without the leaf extract in their water, treatment 2 and 3 received 150 ml of the Neem and Pawpaw leaf extracts, respectively, and treatment 4 received 75ml of Neem extract and 75ml of pawpaw leaf extract mixed. 150ml of the extracts were all diluted into 1 litre of fresh drinking water and served to the broiler chicken. At the end of the experiment, which lasted for 7 weeks, blood sample were collected from the birds and analyzed for the haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, and red blood cell count. Differential count was also carried out. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Result showed that there were no significant differences (P> 0.05) among the treatments in all the parameters tested. The study therefore concluded that 150 ml of neem leaf or pawpaw leaf extracts, or combination of the extracts may be administered to broiler birds without any deleterious effect on broilers’ haematological indices.
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Introduction
In Nigeria, the demand for broiler meat has increased rapidly, as a result of increased income, population growth and urbanization. Broiler production has grown dramatically in the past two decades; these improvements are largely due to numerous researches and breeding programs which further enhanced feed utilization, growth rate and performance. Current commercial hybrids with high performance require high energy diets which would enable the maximum expression of their genetic potential (Sadeghi, 2005). In order to achieve this, poultry farmers make use of antibiotic, vaccines and growth promoter to enhance feed utilization and growth performance of broilers.
Recently, the use of antibiotics and growth promoters in poultry industry has been seriously criticized by policymakers and consumers, because of the development of microbial resistance to these products and the potential harmful effects on human health. Their use has shown many disadvantages like high cost, adverse side effect on health of birds and long residual properties and carcinogenic effect in humans (Butaye et al., 2003). In the presence of low levels of antibiotics, resistant cells survive and grow producing an antibiotic resistant population in the final products. Researchers are concentrating efforts on the use of ancient medicinal practice that involves use of beneficial herbs and plants, which could be safe and increase production in terms of weight gain, feed efficiency, and lowered mortality in poultry birds. The present study was therefore, carried outwith the objective to evaluate the physiological effects of some indigenous medicinal plants and their influence on the hematological parameter of broiler and its general performance.
Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) possess wide range of medicinal properties like antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, hepato-protective and various other properties without showing any adverse effects (Kale et al., 2003). Neem leaves extract has immunostimulant effect that activates the cell mediated immune response and therefore, creates an enhanced response to any future challenges occurred by disease organisms and the feeding neem leaves to birds increased their humoral and cell mediate immune responses. Pawpaw leaves are rich sources of the proteolytic enzymes papain and chymopapain which have protein digesting properties and are useful in controlling digestive problems and intestinal worms (Burkhill, 1985)
Conclusion
Finally, it can be concluded from the result of the experiment that at end of the experiment, the blood profile of the broilers treated with vaccine and drugs, Neem leaf extract, pawpaw leaf extract and a mixture Neem and pawpaw leaf extract had no significant (P>0.05) difference, all the parameter compared favourably the same with the control treatment. VI. RECOMMENDATION In as much as there were no significant difference, but there occur a little high range in treatment 4, therefore I recommend the used of mixture of Neem leaf extract and pawpaw leaf extract (150ml) because it gave higher range on haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and heterophil percentage, and at the same time it is cost effective as Neem leaves and pawpaw leaves are easily accessible to the farm. Further detailed research should be carried to check level of inclusion of the mixture of Neem and Pawpaw leave extract on the haematological profile of broiler.
