Response of single comb White Leghorn layers to dietary inclusion of raw or alkali-treated neem (Azadirachta indica) kernel meal

The performance of White Leghorn layers fed neem kernel meal at a 100 g kg−1 level for part of the soybean meal in a standard layer mash (D1) either as raw (D2) or pretreated with 2% aqueous NaOH (1:1.2 w/v) for 24 h (D3), was examined. Each of the three diets was offered ad libitum as mash for a 12-week period to sixteen 48-week-old hens housed individually in laying cages. The performance criteria included feed intake, egg production, egg quality, fertility and hatchability of eggs and chick weight. Overall values were: feed intake, 104.0±0.89; percent hen day egg production, 76.3±0.26; feed: egg ratio, 135.4±0.92 g; shape index, 73±0.29; albumen index, 0.07±0.002; yolk index, 0.38±0.02; Haugh unit, 73.5±0.78; yolk colour index, 8.63±0.06; egg shell thickness, 0.32±0.06 mm and yolk cholesterol 14.4±0.48. None of the above parameters except yolk index and Haugh unit were found to be significantly (p<0.01) lower for the treated NKM group. Data on fertility, hatchability and mean chick weight were also comparable among the dietary groups. The organoleptic evaluation of eggs also did not reveal any detectable change from the control. The data suggest that inclusion of NKM in diet of hens up to the 100 g kg−1 level supported their productive performance with no observable negative effects.