IMMUNOMODULATORY AND GROWTH PROMOTING EFFECTS OF NEEM LEAVES INFUSION IN BROILER CHICKS

A research study was conducted to investigate growt h promoting and immunomodulatory effects of neem leaves’ infusion on broilers at the NWFP Agricultur al University, Peshawar, Pakistan during June and JOne hundred and sixty day-old chicks were randomly divi ded into four groups, designated as A, B, C and D. Each group was replicated four times with 10 chicks per replic ate, reared in open sided house. Birds of group A, B and C were given 4% concentrated neem leaves’ (Azadirachta ind ica) infusion @ of 30ml, 40ml and 50ml L -1 of fresh drinking water respectively, and group D was kept as control . Mean feed and water intake were higher (P<0.05) i n control group as compared to others. Group C exhibited bett er (P<0.05) mean body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and dressing percentage. Although, weight of giblet and other body organs (thigh, leg, intestine and abdominal fat) were same, significantly (P<0.05) hi gher mean breast weight was recorded in group C tha n in other groups. Mean feed cost was significantly higher for group D than A, B and C. Mean gross return for gro up C was significantly higher than other groups. Significant ly (P<0.05) higher mortality was observed in group D as compared to group A, B and C. Mean antibody titer aInfectious Bursal Disease (IBD) virus for gr oup C was significantly (P<0.05) higher than rest of three gr oups. It was found that Neem (Azadirachta indica) i nfusion