Water-washed neem (Azadirachta indicajuss) seed kernel cake as a cattle feed

Abstract

SUMMARYNeem (Azadirachta indica juss) seed kernel cake was water treated and dried in the sun. It was palatable to cattle, despite its bitter smell.Twelve growing calves were divided into two equal groups; one group (control) had a standard concentrate mixture consisting of crushed maize 30 parts, groundnut cake 30 parts, wheat bran 38 parts and in the second group (experimental) the concentrate mixture had crushed maize 30 parts, neem seed kernel cake (water washed) 45 parts and wheat bran 23 parts. Both the mixtures had common salt and mineral mixture 1 part each. The roughage fed was the same in both groups.The mean growth rate of calves in 273 days was 403 g/day in the control group and 344 g/day in the experimental group which did not differ significantly (P > 0·05). The dry-matter intake, digestibilities of all the organic nutrients, total digestible nutrient values and the balances of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus remained similar (P > 0·05) in the two groups. The blood haemoglobin, serum inorganic phosphorus and the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase, serum acid phosphatase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase also did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) in the two groups.It is concluded that water washing of neem seed kernel cake very largely removes toxic principles responsible for retardation in growth.

Utilization of Water Washed Neem (Azadirachta indica) Seed Kernel Cake as a Protein Source for Growing Pigs

“…Control group animals were fed cn a conventional concentrate mixture comprising of crushed maize, groundnut cake, wheat bran, fishmeal, mineral mixture and common salt, 35, 10, 47, 6, 1.5 and 0.5 percent, respectively. In the ration of pigs of experimental group, whole of groundnut cake was replaced with an equal quantity of water washed (Nath et al, 1983) neem seed kernel cake. During the 180 days feeding trial, weight gain and feed consumption of individual pigs were recorded.…”

“…In an effort to mitigate the chronic shortage of protein supplements for domesticated livestock, success has been achieved to convert the bitter and toxic neem seed kernel cake (Rajagopal and Nath, 1981) as an excellent protein source merely by water washing for growing cattle (Nath et al, 1983), buffalo calves (Agrawal et al, 1987) and milch cows (Nath et al, 1989). It was considered that the residual bitter toxic principles after water washing were probably detoxified in the m e n , rendering the cake harmless to ruminants.…”

The use of water-washed neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernel cake in the feeding of buffalo calves

“…A new protein supplement in the form of water-washed neem (Azadirachta indica) seed kernel cake for tropical countries such as India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma and also for tropical regions of Australia, Africa, the Middle East and South-East Asia which could be successfully fed to cattle has been reported by Nath, Rajgopal & Garg (1983). The adverse effect of the bitter or toxic principles contained in the neem seed kernel cake could be removed by water washing.…”

Neem Extract

“…Overnight soaking of neem kernel cake in 0.8% sodium hydroxide and water followed by washing with water two or three times leads to significantly higher nitrogen balance (Nath et al, 1983). In addition, cattle productivity remained unaffected qualitatively as well as quantitatively.…”