GROWTH-RATE AND NUTRIENT EFFICIENCY OF GROWING GOATS FED UREA AMMONIATED NEEM (AZADIRACHTA-INDICA) SEED KERNEL MEAL AS PROTEIN-SUPPLEMENT

A growth trial was undertaken to study the feasibility of total replac ement of deoiled groundnut cake (DGNC) with urea ammoniated neem(Azadi rachta indica) seed kernel meal (UANSKM). Isonitrogenous control (22% DGNC) and experimental (22.5% UANSKM) concentrate mixtures were fed to 12 male and 12 female goats to meet 90% of the CP requirements for 50 g daily gain. Ad libitum oat(Avena sativa) hay up to 8 fortnights or green sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) for the rest of period was also provid ed. The total body weight gain (kg), average daily gain (g), feed conv ersion efficiency (feed/gain) and feed cost (Rs.) per kg gain in the c ontrol group were 6.0 +/- 0.56, 32.8 +/- 3.20, 8.7 +/- 0.55 and 29.8 /- 1.83, respectively. The corresponding figures in the experimental g roup were 5.6 +/- 0.59, 31.0 +/- 3.25, 9.1 +/- 0.57 and 25.6 +/- 1.62, respectively. The nutritive values of the consumed diets were compara ble between the control and experimental group. Dietary variation did not significantly influence the efficiency of DM (8.7 vs 9.1 g), prote in (1.2 vs 1.2 g CP) and energy (22.9 vs 22.8 kcal ME) utilization per unit gain. Feed cost per kg gain of the experimental diet was cheaper than the control diet by 14.2%. The concentration of blood biochemica l constituents (haemoglobin, glucose and urea nitrogen) and the activi ty of various enzymes (transaminases and alkaline phosphatase) did not differ significantly between the treatments. The feeding cost per uni t weight gain and average daily gain in males was marginally superior to females, though not significant. Glucose concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in males, whereas the other blood constituents did not dif fer between the sexes. It is concluded that urea ammoniated neem seed kernel meal can be a satisfactory, economical and wholesome substitute to totally replace deoiled groundnut cake in rations of growing goats .