Preservative Effects of Neem Oil (Azadirachta indica) on Farm-Mixed Poultry Feed

Abstract

In the present study, In vitro and in sacco antifungal activities of neem oil (NO) against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp and Fusarium sp were evaluated on farm-mixed poultry feed. In vitro concentrations of NO were 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3% (v/v) and In sacco concentrations were 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g/Kg of feed. The most frequently isolated fungi in poultry feed was Penicillium sp (83.87%). The lowest in vitro colony diameters of Aspergillus favus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium sp were recorded with 3% of NO while, the highest fungi growth reductions were recorded with 2.5 and 3% of NO. Above the concentration of 0.5% NO showed fungistatic activity against A. flavus, A. niger and Penicillium sp. In sacco study of NO established the total inhibition (100%) of Aspergillus niger and Fusarium sp with 10, 15 and 30 g NO Kg^-1 of feed after 20 days of storage. At 30 days of storage, there was no contamination of farm-mixed poultry feed especially by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger and the increasing NO concentration decreased the contamination of poultry feed by Penicillium sp. Given its accessibility, neem oil could be implemented as part of suitable integrated preservative agent for fungal contamination, as it has shown the inhibition of growth and number of colony.