CHEVON CHARACTERISTICS OF GOATS FED DIETS WITH WATER WASHED NEEM (AZADIRACHTA-INDICA) SEED KERNEL CAKE

Neem seed kernel cake (NSKC), a protein rich (34-40% CP) by-product of the oil industry in developing countries, is not suitable for livesto ck feeding due to the presence of bitter and toxic triterpenoids. It w as water washed (WWNSKC) and fed to 15 male growing goats of 5-6 month s old, divided into three equal groups in a completely randomised desi gn, for 180 days as a major source of protein by incorporating it at 1 5% (Group II) and 25% (Group III) in the concentrate mixture and compa red with a control (Group I) diet which contained mustard (Brassica sp .) meal as protein source, with oats (Auena sativa) hay ad libitum as sole source of roughage. Incorporation of WWNSKC in diets of goats eve n up to 25% did not significantly effect the dressing percentage on em pty BW (42.2-43.8%) and slaughter weight (51.2-51.9%) basis. Weight an d percent yield of wholesale cuts (neck, shoulder, breast and shank, r ack and legs) on WWNSKC feeding were comparable with those of conventi onal oil cake fed goats. Though non-significant between 15 and 25% WWN SKC fed goats, the carcasses from these goats were significantly leane r than those from control diet fed goats as evidenced by higher propor tion of meat in cuts and whole carcass, wider bone/meat ratio and larg er loin eye (longissimus dorsi, LD) muscle area. Fat (EE) % in LD musc le significantly decreased with incorporation of WWNSKC, probably due to an antihyperglycaemic effect of residual neem bitters left in washe d cake. Organoleptic evaluation of pressure cooked (with and without s alt) LD muscle on a seven point Hedonic scale by a panel of 15 semi-tr ained judges did not reveal any untoward bitter taste due to WWNSKC fe eding. Thus NSKC after water washing can be a suitable vegetable prote in substitute in diets of goats for profitable chevon production in de veloping countries, for mitigating chronic shortage of oil cakes for l ivestock feeding.