Synergistic interplay of Azadirachta indica and Curcuma longa improves feed efficiency and ω-6 fatty acid content in the breast muscle of broiler chicken

The study explores synergistic interplay of <i>Azadirachta indica</i> and <i>Curcuma longa</i> to address the current gap of suboptimal feed conversion ratio and inadequate enrichment of ω-6 fatty acids (FAs) in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken. Total 288 Ross-308 male broiler chicks were randomly distributed in a complete block design at 2 × 3 (Two different phytochemicals, i.e., <i>A. indica</i>, and <i>C. longa</i> at three different levels, i.e., 0, 0.063, and 0.125 % of the basal diet) factorial arrangement. Final live weight (FLW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, cardio-pulmonary morphometry, haemato-biochemical indices, gut morphology, ileal nutrient digestibility, tibia morphometry, meat quality and FA profile were measured. Results indicated that, supplementation of <i>A. indica</i> leaf meal (AILM) improved 6.0 % FCR (<i>P < 0.001</i>), 35.9 % tibia calcium content (<i>P = 0.007</i>) and 9.6 % of the digestibility of CP (<i>P < 0.001</i>) at the expense of 14.9 % FLW (<i>P < 0.001</i>), 20.6 % ADFI (<i>P < 0.001</i>), 15.1 % ADG (<i>P < 0.001</i>), and 16.0 % right to total ventricular ratio (<i>P = 0.022</i>). Accordingly, <i>C. longa</i> powder (CLP) improved 2.1 % FCR (<i>P = 0.021</i>) at the expense of 5.9 % FLW (<i>P = 0.031</i>), 7.6 % ADFI (<i>P < 0.001</i>) and 5.3 % ADG (<i>P = 0.017</i>). The AILM substantially increased 52.4 % UFA (<i>P < 0.001</i>), 58.2 % MUFA (<i>P = 0.005</i>), 38.7 % ∑PUFA (<i>P = 0.046</i>), 41.7 % ∑ω-6 FAs (<i>P = 0.013</i>) and decreased 24.3 % ∑SFA (<i>P < 0.001</i>). Similarly, the CLP increased 8.1 % ∑UFA (<i>P = 0.022</i>), 21.6 % ∑PUFA (<i>P = 0.015</i>), 22.4 % ∑ω-6 FAs (<i>P = 0.033</i>) and decreased 4.3 % ∑SFA (<i>P = 0.031</i>). The AILM and CLP interacted to increase 35.3 % ∑UFA (<i>P = 0.003</i>) and to decrease 21.2 % ∑SFA (<i>P = 0.008</i>). It was concluded that <i>A. indica and C. longa</i> concomitantly improved FCR and meat quality without affecting gut morphology and haemato-biochemical indices of the broiler chicken.