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 Azadirachta indica and Curcuma longa 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., A. indica, and C. longa 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 A. indica leaf meal (AILM) improved 6.0 % FCR (P < 0.001), 35.9 % tibia calcium content (P = 0.007) and 9.6 % of the digestibility of CP (P < 0.001) at the expense of 14.9 % FLW (P < 0.001), 20.6 % ADFI (P < 0.001), 15.1 % ADG (P < 0.001), and 16.0 % right to total ventricular ratio (P = 0.022). Accordingly, C. longa powder (CLP) improved 2.1 % FCR (P = 0.021) at the expense of 5.9 % FLW (P = 0.031), 7.6 % ADFI (P < 0.001) and 5.3 % ADG (P = 0.017). The AILM substantially increased 52.4 % UFA (P < 0.001), 58.2 % MUFA (P = 0.005), 38.7 % ∑PUFA (P = 0.046), 41.7 % ∑ω-6 FAs (P = 0.013) and decreased 24.3 % ∑SFA (P < 0.001). Similarly, the CLP increased 8.1 % ∑UFA (P = 0.022), 21.6 % ∑PUFA (P = 0.015), 22.4 % ∑ω-6 FAs (P = 0.033) and decreased 4.3 % ∑SFA (P = 0.031). The AILM and CLP interacted to increase 35.3 % ∑UFA (P = 0.003) and to decrease 21.2 % ∑SFA (P = 0.008). It was concluded that A. indica and C. longa concomitantly improved FCR and meat quality without affecting gut morphology and haemato-biochemical indices of the broiler chicken.