Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T05:09:58.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Alkali-treated neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake as a livestock feed

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

K. M. Nath
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
V. K. Vijjan
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
S. K. Ranjhan
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India

Summary

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss syn. Melia azadirachta Linn.) seed cake boiled with 8 g caustic soda/kg cake in 2·51 of water for 30 min yielded a product which was palatable to cattle unlike untreated neem seed cake which is bitter, foul smelling and wholly unpalatable to cattle.

Two experiments were made on calves to compare the performance of two groups of animals; one group (control) fed on a standard concentrate mixture consisting of 33% groundnut cake, 34% maize and 33% wheat bran and the second group (experimental) on 50% alkali-treated neem seed cake, 33% groundnut cake and 17% maize, the roughage being the same in both the groups.

The results showed that the dry-matter intake/100 kg body weight of the animals did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between the two groups but digestibility of dry matter and total carbohydrates and the growth rate was significantly lower (P < 0·05) in the experimental group. The digestibility of crude protein and ether extract and the adjusted balances of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and sulphur remained similar (P > 0·05) in the two groups. The reduction of the growth rate in the experimental group could be accounted for by the lower total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake and there was no difference (P > 0·05) in the serum icteric index, blood inorganic phosphorus and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in the two groups.

It is concluded that alkali-treated neem seed cake has great potential as a cattle feed and alkali treatment removes either completely or very largely the toxic principles present in neem seed cake.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

A.O.A.C. (1975). Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 12th edn.Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Bedi, S. P. S., Vijjan, V. K. & Ranjhan, S. K. (1974). Scientific Annual Report, Animal Nutrition Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.Google Scholar
Bedi, S. P. S., Vijjan, V. K. & Ranjhan, S. K. (1975). Utilization of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake and its influence on nutrient digestibilities in buffaloes. Indian Journal of Dairy Science 28, 104–7.Google Scholar
Butterworth, J. H. & Morgan, E. D. (1968). Isolation of a substance that suppresses feeding in locusts. Chemical Communication 1, 23–4. (Cited from Chemical Abstracts 68,5665.)Google Scholar
Fiske, C. H. & Subbarow, Y. (1925). The colorimetric determination of phosphorus. Journal of Biological Chemistry 66, 375400.Google Scholar
Fuller, H. L., Chang, S. L. & Potter, D. K. (1967). Detoxication of dietary tannic acid by chicks. Journal of Nutrition 91, 477–81.Google Scholar
Goyal, R. S., Gulati, K. C., Sarup, P., Kidwai, M. A. & Singh, D. S. (1971). Biological activity of various alcohol extracts and isolates of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake against Rhopalosiphum nympheae and Schistocerca gregaria. Indian Journal of Entomology 33, 6771.Google Scholar
Guenther, Berndt (1963). The use of margosa oil and margosa extract in Indian pharmacy. Seifen-Oele-Fette-Wachse 59, 894. (Cited from Chemical Abstracts 63, 5449.)Google Scholar
Hawk, P. B., Oser, B. L. & Summerson, W. H. (1954). Practical Physiological Chemistry, 13th edn.New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc.Google Scholar
Hooker, J. D. (1875). Flora of British India, vol. 1. London: L. Reeve & Co.Google Scholar
Lavie, D., Jain, M. K. & Shpan-Gabrielith, S. R. (1967). A locust phagorepellent from two Melia species. Chemical Communication 18, 910–11. (Cited from Chemical Abstracts 68, 13204.)Google Scholar
Mitra, C. R. (1963). Neem. Hyderabad, India: Indian Central Oilseeds Committee.Google Scholar
Pusztai, A. (1967). Trypsin inhibitors of plant origin, their chemistry and potential role in animal nutrition. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 37, 19.Google Scholar
Siddiqui, S. (1942). A note on the isolation of three new bitter principles from nim (margosa) oil, Current Science 11, 278–9.Google Scholar
Sinha, N. P. & Gulati, K. C. (1963). Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake as a source of pest control chemicals. Bulletin Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, India 1, 176–7. (Cited from Chemical Abstracts 60,5348.)Google Scholar
Sinha, N. P. & Gulati, K. C. (1964). Neem seed cake as a source of pest control chemicals, II. Aphicidal factor. Pesticide Symposium, Academy of Pest Control Science, Mysore, India, pp. 215–20.Google Scholar
Sinha, N. P. & Gulati, K. C. (1968). Nitrification studies of solvent extracted neem seed cake and groundnut cake in Delhi soil. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science 38, 244–50.Google Scholar
Snedecor, G. W. & Cochran, W. G. (1968). Statistical Science Methods. Indian edition. Calcutta: Oxford and IBH Publishing Co.Google Scholar