, T 1. Indian J. Anim. Res., 50 (5) 2016 : *Corresponding author s

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1 Indian J. Anim. Res., 50 (5) 2016 : Print ISSN: / Online ISSN: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE Effect of feeding water washed neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake and salt sprinkled neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Osmanabadi kids R.L. Korake*, A.T. Shinde and B.M. Thombre Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani , India. Received: Accepted: DOI: /ijar.v0i0f.3801 ABSTRACT Twenty four Osmanabadi weaned male kids with average live weight of kg were divided into four equal groups and fed with WWNSC and salt sprinkled neem leaves for 182 days to study the effect on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. The daily gain in body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually than kids fed with WWNSC individually and in combination with salt sprinkled neem leaves. The DM, DCP and TDN intake in terms of per cent live body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually than kids fed with WWNSC individually. Moreover, digestibility (%) of DM, CF and NFE was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually over kids fed with WWNSC individually except CP which was comparable in all treatments groups. Key words: Azadirachta indica, Neem seed cake, Osmanabadi. Abbreviations: WWNSC: water washed neem seed cake DCP: digestible crude protein TDN: total digestible nutrient CP: crude protein CF: crude fiber EE: ether extract. INTRODUCTION The increase in the cost of conventional feed stuffs with their irregular supply pose a great threat to future livestock industry including small ruminants. Most of feeds such as energy and protein sources viz., maize, sorghum and groundnut cake used in the production of livestock feed are also used for human consumption. It is therefore, necessary to seek alternative sources such as non-conventional feed resources and incorporate them in the preparation of animal feed (Anonymous, 1976). Chronic shortage of protein and energy rich feed, shrinkage of grazing lands thrown a serious challenge to meet the feed and fodder requirement of million livestock population (Anonymous, 2012) of our country. The liberalized export policies and diversion of conventional animal feeds for human consumption aggravates the shortage of digestible crude protein and total digestible nutrients. Hence, matter of imbalance between supply and demand for concentrate feed (23 vs. 53 million tonnes dry matter) is of great concern (Anonymous, 2013). Animal nutritionists are therefore, in constant search of alternate feed resources for economical livestock feeding. Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake and neem leaves are non-conventional feeds are good source of protein i.e and per cent, respectively for livestock *Corresponding author s ravikorake@yahoo.co.in feeding. Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake (NSC), a byproduct of neem oil industry, is a non-conventional feed ingredients showing great potential for livestock feeding (Nath et al., 1974; Gowda and Prasad, 2005). Despite high CP content in neem seed and neem leaves, its incorporation in animal diets was discouraged due to their adverse effect on production traits because of presence of bitter taste and toxic triterpenoids, mainly nimbin, nimbidin, azadirachin and salanin (Paul et al., 1996). To overcome these problems of incorporation of neem seed cake and neem leaves in animal feed, the water washing treatment to NSC and salt sprinkling treatment to neem leaves have practically more importance. Looking to the benefits of NSC and neem leaves in the diet of small ruminant; it was decided to use water washed NSC and salt sprinkled neem leaves in the diet of Osmanabadi male kids. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animal, housing and feeding management: Twenty four healthy, Osmanabadi weaned male kids (5-6 months of age) were divided in four groups (T 0,, T and T ) of six kids 2 3 each in a randomized block design. Experimental kids were drenched with anthelmintic (Fenbendazole 5 mg per kg BW) at the beginning of experiment and allowed to adapt for 10 days before experimental feeding. Experimental kids were housed in a clean, well-ventilated shed with facilities of

2 712 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH individual feeding and watering. All the kids were fed individually. The kids in T 0,, and treatment group were fed with concentrate, concentrate + water washed neem seed cake (WWNSC), concentrate + salt treated neem leaves and concentrate + water washed neem seed cake (WWNSC) + salt treated neem leaves, respectively at 8.15 am daily (Table 1). The green maize was fed to kids at am as per treatment details (Table 1). In the afternoon session, at 4.00 pm ad libitum sorghum straw was fed to all groups. Daily feed intake and weekly body weights for two consecutive days before feeding and watering were recorded throughout the 182 days of experimental period. Quantity of concentrates, green maize, water washed neem seed cake (WWNSC) and sprinkled neem leaves to be offered daily was adjusted fortnightly as per body weight. Fresh and clean drinking water was provided ad libitum. The shed and surrounding area was sprayed with Blutox and Diptraz at an interval of one month. The kids were regularly groomed and cleaned. The kids were regularly checked for their healthy condition by veterinary doctor. Healthy and hygienic condition was maintained in the shed throughout experimental period. Feeds: The nutrient requirement of the experimental kids was considered as per the ICAR standard (Anonymous, 1998) for growing kids. The composition of homemade concentrate, green maize, WWNSC, salt sprinkled neem leaves and Sorghum kadbi are presented in Table 2. Growth trial : The linear body measurements (length, height and chest girth) and body weight of experimental kids were recorded at fortnight and weekly intervals, respectively. Digestion trial : To determine the digestibility of feed offered to experimental kids, the digestion trial was conducted twice in the whole experimental period of seven days of each. The kids were kept in metabolic cages. The first digestion trial was conducted in the mid of the experimental period i.e. from 85 th to 91 th day of experiment and second at the end of experiment i.e. from 176 th to 182 th day of experiment. The quantity of faeces voided during 24 h were collected and measured. Representatives samples of feeds offered, residue left, faeces voided were brought to the laboratory for further analysis. Analytical procedure of feeds and faeces: Feed and faeces samples were analyzed for dry matter as per the method of Table 1: Details of treatments Treatments T 0 Feed details AOAC (Anonymous, 1975), crude protein by micro-kjeldhal method (Anonymous, 1975), Crude fiber by acid and alkali digestion method (Anonymous, 1975), ether extract by Soxhelts method (Anonymous, 1975), total ash as per the method of AOAC (Anonymous, 1975) and NFE content of faecal sample was determined by subtracting moisture, CP, EE, CF and total ash from 100. Statistical analysis: The data of growth performance; nutrient intake and digestibility were subjected to test of significance using randomized block design and completely randomized design (Scnedecor and Cochran, 1967), respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Chemical composition of WWNSC and salt sprinkled neem leaves: The mean values for CP, EE, CF, NFE and TA content of water washed neem seed cake are comparable to those of Gowda et al. (1998) and Yasim et al. (2008). The mean values for CP, EE, CF, NFE and TA content of salt sprinkled neem leaves are comparable to those of Jain and Beniwal (1983), Bhagwat et al. (1987), Balkrishnan (1994) and Radhakrishnan (2005a). Growth performance: The gain in body weight was significantly (P<0.05) higher in groups fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually than the groups with WWNSC individually and in combination with salt sprinkled neem leaves (Table 3). Among all treatment, group ( ) fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves showed highest gain in body weight which could be due be higher growth rate resulted from higher feed intake in terms of DM and significantly higher digestibility of CF and NFE of feeds than rest of treatments. The similar results were reported by Radhakrishnan (2005a) in non-descript male kids fed with complete ration containing 20 per cent level of neem leaves and Radhakrishnan (2005b) in Madras Red ram lambs. The NSC feeding decreased the performance of experimental animals in terms of body weight was observed by Nath et al. (1983) in growing calves and Musalia et al. (2000) in lambs. However, gain in height, body length and chest girth was significantly (P<0.05) lower in kids fed with WWNSC individually than kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves and control diet while comparable to group fed with WWNSC in combination with salt sprinkled neem leaves. 50% DCP from concentrate mixture + 50% DCP from green maize fodder + ad libitum sorghum kadbi 35 35% DCP from concentrate mixture + 15% DCP from processed neem seed cake + 50% DCP from green maize fodder + ad libitum sorghum kadbi 50% DCP from concentrate mixture + 15% DCP from processed neem leaves + 35% DCP from green maize fodder + ad libitum sorghum kadbi 35 35% DCP from concentrate mixture + 15% DCP from processed neem seed cake + 15% DCP from processed neem leaves + 35% DCP from green maize fodder + ad libitum sorghum kadbi

3 Volume 50 Issue 5 (2016) 713 Table 2: Treatments details and chemical composition of homemade concentrate, green maize, WWNSC, salt sprinkled neem leaves and Sorghum kadbi Attributes Treatments details Chemical composition (% DM basis) T 0 DM CP EE CF NFE TA Feed stuffs HomemadeConcentrate 50% DCP 35% DCP 50% DCP 35% DCP Greem maize 50% DCP 50% DCP 35% DCP 35% DCP WWNSC - 15% DCP - 15% DCP Salt sprinkled neem leaves % DCP 15% DCP Sorghum kadbi Ad lib Ad lib Ad lib Ad lib Table 3: Growth performance in different treatment groups Attributes T 0 SE + CD (0.05) Body weight (BW) Initial BW (kg) Final BW (kg) Gain in BW (kg) ab c a b Average daily gain (g) ab c a b Linear body measurement Body Height (BH) Initial BH (cm) Final BH (cm) Gain in BH (cm) a b a b Monthly gain in BH (cm) a b a b Body Length (BL) Initial BL (cm) Final BL (cm) Gain in BL (cm) a b a ab Monthly gain in BL (cm) 1.44 a a b a ab Chest Girth (CG) Initial CG (cm) Final CG(cm) Gain in CG (cm) a b a ab Monthly gain in CG (cm) a b a ab Means with dissimilar superscripts differed significantly (P<0.05)

4 714 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH The present findings were in agreement with those of Uprikar et al. (2012) who reported the significant difference (P<0.05) in mean body height, body length and chest girth in Osmanabadi kids among treatments groups. The NSC feeding decreased the performance of experimental animals in terms of body weight was observed by Nath et al. (1983) and Musalia et al. (2000). Rahman et al. (2008) reported that heart girth, body length and height at wither strongly and positively correlated with body weight. Nutrient intake: The average daily DM, DCP and TDN intake on body weight, per cent body weight and per kg metabolic body weight basis was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually than groups fed with WWNSC individually while comparable to group fed with WWNSC in combination with salt sprinkled neem leaves and control groups (Table 4). The significantly lower average daily DM, DCP and TDN intake in WWNSC individually fed group which could be due to refusal of WWNSC due to its bitter taste and toxic triterpenoids, mainly nimbin, nimbidin, azadirachin and salanin. The results are in agreement with those of Radhakrishnan (2005a) who reported higher DM, DCP and TDN intake in non-descript weaned male kids fed with complete ration containing 20 per cent level of neem leaves. Similarly, Radhakrishnan (2005b) reported higher nutrient intake in Madras Red ram lambs fed with wilted neem leaves. Whereas, NSC feeding decreased dry matter intake as compared to other experimental groups was also observed by Lundri and Arora (1977) who reported depression in feed intake in Buffalo calves fed with 20 parts of NSC in concentrate mixture. Similar results were also reported by Nath et al. (1983) in growing calves and Musalia et al. (2000) in lambs. Mondal (1997) who reported reduction in (P<0.01) DCP intake in crossbred calves. Nutrient digestibility: The digestibility (%) of DM, CF, NFE was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually over kids fed with WWNSC individually except CP which was comparable in all treatments groups while ether extract digestibility was significantly (P<0.05) higher in kids without supplementation of WWNSC and salt sprinkled neem leaves than rest of all groups (Table 5). Among all, treatment group fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves ( ) showed highest dry matter digestibility and lowest dry matter digestibility was observed in group ( ) fed with WWNSC. The highest DM digestibility in group fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually ( ) could be due to higher DCP and NFE content in salt sprinkled neem leaves than WWNSC. Moreover, slightly higher digestibility of nutrient in group fed with salt sprinkled neem leaves as compare to control could be due to neem leaves containing antihelmintic Table 4: Average daily nutrient intake in different treatment groups Attributes T 0 SE + CD (0.05) DM intake (g) a b a a Total DM intake (kg) a b a a DM intake (% BW in kg) a b a a DM intake per kg W 0.75 kg (g) a b a a DCP intake (g) b c a ab Total DCP intake (kg) b c a ab DCP intake (% BW in g) ab b a a DCP intake per kg W 0.75 kg (g) ab b a a TDN intake (g) a b a ab Total TDN intake (kg) a b a a TDN intake (% BW in kg) a b a ab TDN intake per kg W 0.75 kg (g) a b a a Means with dissimilar superscripts differed significantly (P<0.05)

5 Table 5: Nutrient digestibility (%) in different treatment groups Volume 50 Issue 5 (2016) 715 Attributes T 0 SE + CD (0.05) Digestibility (%) DM a b a b CP EE a b b b CF ab b a ab NFE ab c a bc Means with dissimilar superscripts differed significantly (P<0.05) NS= Non-Significant compound resulting in control internal parasites (Makkar, et al. 2007). The results are comparable to those of Radhakrishnan (2005a) who reported higher nutrient digestibility per cent in non-descript male kids fed with ration containing 20 per cent of level of Neem leaves compared with other treatment groups and Radhakrishnan (2005b) who reported higher nutrient digestibility in lambs fed with ration containing 25:37.5:37.5 Neem: SS: GNH compared with other treatment groups. Whereas, neem seed cake feeding reduced nutrient digestibility in experimental animal was observed by Pradhan (1975) in male crossbred calves fed with ration in which GNC was completely replaced by NSC at 27 per cent, Nath et al. (1983) in calves fed with ration consisting of 40 per cent WWNKC and Agrawal et al (1987) in buffalo calves fed with ration containing 40 per cent WWNSC. CONCLUSION It is concluded that Osmanabadi growing kids had given better response in term of growth performance and nutrient utilization to diet supplemented with salt sprinkled neem leaves individually (15% DCP) along with green maize (35% DCP) homemade concentrate mixture (50% DCP) rather than diets supplemented with WWNSC individually and in combination with salt sprinkled neem leaves. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for providing Inspire Fellowship during Ph.D. degree programme. Our sincere gratitude goes to Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Parbhani for providing required materials and laboratory facilities for conducting research. REFERENCES Agrawal, D.K., Gark, A. K. and Nath, K. (1987). The use of water washed neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake in the feeding of buffalo calves. J. Agric. Sci. 108: Anonymous, (1975). Official Method of Analysis, Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Official Methods of Analysis 12 th Edn., Washington. D.C. Anonymous, (1976). Report of the FAO technical consultation on new feed resources held in Rome from 22 to 24 November FAO meeting report Aga-806, Rome, FAO: 1, 2, 28, 29. Anonymous, (1998). Nutrient Requirement of Livestock and Poultry. Indian Council of Agricultural Research. New Delhi. India. Anonymous, (2012). 19th Livestock Census All India Report, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. Anonymous, (2013). Annual Report , Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi. Balakrishnan, V. (1994). Evaluation of tree fodder and their use in small ruminants. Ph.D. Thesis, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India. Bhagwat, S. R., Pande, M. B. and Radudia, N.S. (1987). Feed value of neem leaves (Azadirachta Indica) for Camels. Ind. Vet. J., 64: Gowda, N. K. S. and Prasad, C. S. (2005). macro- and micro-nutrient utilization and milk production in crossbred dairy cows fed finger millet (Eleusine Coracana) and rice (Oryza Sativa) straw as dry roughage source. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 18: Gowda, S. K., Verma, S. V. S., Elangovan, A. V. and Singh, S. D. (1998). Neem kernel meal in the diet of white leghorn layers. Br. Poult. Sci. 39:648:652. Jain, P. and Beniwal, R. K. (1983). Top feed resources in the semi arid region. Mahd Singh, edn., in: proceeding of a national seminar on tops feed resources their production utilization and the constraints, 27-28, December 1982, CSWRI, Avikanagar, India. Ludri, R. S. and Arora, S. P. (1977). Versatile neem (Azadirachta Indica) - A Review. Agriculture Review, 4:1-10.

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