Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Neem Leaf Powder (Azadirachta Indica) on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with neem leaf powder (NLP) on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and serum biochemical parameters of broilers. A total of 225 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were used in a 35-day experiment using a completely randomized design. The birds were divided into 5 dietary base treatments with 3 replicates of 15 birds per pen. The treatments consisted of supplementation of 0, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 g/kg of NLP to a basal diet. The experiment included an evaluation of the following characteristics: performance, internal organs, and serum biochemical parameters. The results showed that the addition of different levels of NLP to the diet had no significant effect on the growth performance of broilers at different ages. Broilers fed with 2-3.5 g/kg NLP had a smaller breast size compared to the control group, while thigh weight increased linearly. The gizzard's weight showed a linear increase. Other organ weights did not differ significantly. The addition of 3.5 g/kg NLP to the broiler diet increased total protein and albumin levels. ALT, AST, and MDA levels decreased significantly with increasing NLP levels, while SOD and CAT levels increased. Broilers fed 2.5–3.5 g/kg NLP had higher HDL and lower LDL levels compared to the control group. No significant effect was observed on TG, total cholesterol, or VLDL levels. In summary, NLP supplementation in the broiler diet led to smaller breast sizes, increased thigh weight, an improved lipid profile, and enhanced liver health.