Author(s): Khushboo Yadav, Ajeet Kumar Verma, PS Pramanik, Manoj Kumar Verma, SS Chauhan and Amit Kumar

Abstract: This investigation aimed to assess the effect of incorporating neem leaf meal (NLM), moringa leaf meal (MLM), and their combination (MNLM) into the diet on the number of fecal oocysts in Kadaknath layers. A total of 72 Kadaknath laying hens, aged 42 weeks, were randomly allocated into four groups. Each group consisted of eighteen birds, and three replications were conducted for each treatment. The experimental groups consisted of the control group, referred to as T_C, which was administered a basal diet (BD) without any dietary supplements. The T_M group received a combination of BD and 2% moringa leaf meal (MLM), the T_N group received a combination of BD and 2% neem leaf meal (NLM), and the T_MN group received a combination of 1% MLM and 1% NLM (MNLM) supplement. Fecal samples were collected at 15-day intervals over a period of two months and examined for the existence of fecal oocysts. A statistically significant difference was seen between the T_C group and the groups that received herbal supplementation (p<0.05). At the conclusion of the experiment, the T_MN group, which received a combination of 1% moringa leaf meal and 1% neem leaf meal, exhibited the lowest average Oocyst per gram count of 83.33. This was followed by the T_N group, which had a mean Oocyst per gram count of 100, and the T_M group, which had a mean OPG count of 116.67. The study determined that the combination of 1% moringa and 1% neem leaf meal exhibited a greater antiparasitic effect on the eggs.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i6Sf.1330