ANTICOCCIDIAL POTENTIALS OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE L.) AND NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA J.) LEAF MEAL BASED-DIETS IN BROILER CHICKS

Intensive rearing and high flock density of commercial poultry have increased the exposure to diseases such as coccidiosis. The protozoan parasite of the genus Eimeria multiplies in the intestinal tract and causes tissue damage. The use of herbal plants as an alternative natural product is a novel source of medications. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the anticoccidial effects of oregano (Origanum vulgare) leaf meal and neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on the incidence of coccidiosis in broiler chicks’ production. Two hundred 1-day old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were allotted to five dietary treatments, five replicates of eight birds each in a completely randomized design. T1 (basal0 diet, non-challenged), T2 (basal diet, challenged), T3 (basal diet + 0.5% oregano leaf meal, challenged), T4 (basal diet + 0.5% neem leaf meal, challenged), T5 (basal diet + 0.5% oregano leaf meal + 0.5% neem leaf meal, challenged). Performance indices were measured. On day 21, both the litter and excreta samples were collected for Eimeria counts and blood samples were collected for selected serum biochemical indices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P<0.05. The final weight, body weight gains, and feed conversion ratio of birds that received 0.5% Origanum vulgare or 0.5% Azadirachta indica diets singly were significantly (P<0.05) improved compared with those on the control diets. The highest albumin values were recorded for birds fed 0.5% Origanum vulgare (1.91g/dL) and 0.5% Azadirachta indica (1.57g/dL) compared with the other treatment groups. The creatinine values recorded for birds fed the negative control group and 0.5% Azadirachta indica diets were similar to those of other treatment groups. The alanine aminotransferase of birds on leaf meal-supplemented diets was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control diets. The egg per gram (litter) in birds fed positive control (580EPG) was substantially (P<0.05) higher than in other treatments. However, birds fed a blend of 0.5% Origanum vulgare + 0.5% Azadirachta indica leaf meal had the lowest egg per gram (160EPG). There was no oocyte per gram (excreta) observed in birds fed the leaf meals either singly or in combinations. In conclusion, supplementation of Origanum vulgare and Azadirachta indica at 0.5% in broiler chicks’ diets lowered Eimeria spp. in the excreta and consequently enhanced the growth performance of the birds.