FEEDING OF WATER WASHED NEEM (AZADIRACHTA-INDICA) SEED KERNEL CAKE TOGROWING GOATS

To mitigate chronic shortage of feeds for livestock in developing coun tries, neem seed kernel cake (34-40% CP, bitter in taste, unsuitable f or livestock feeding) was water washed (WWNSKC) and fed to 5-6-month-o ld male, growing goats for 180 days as a major source of protein by in corporating it at 15% (group II) and 25% (group III) in the concentrat e mixtures. Their performance was compared with goats fed 15% deoiled mustard (Brassica sp.) cake (group I). CP content of group I, II and I II concentrate mixtures was 16.7, 15.9 and 17.8%, respectively. Averag e daily DMI (g),BW gain (g/d) and feed conversion efficiency (unit DM intake/unit gain) on group I, II and In diets were 307.3+/-23.27, 324. 0+/-26.78 and 325.6+/-25.57; 22.6+/-3.64, 28.9+/-3.34 and 25.2+/-2.89; 14.6+/-1.68, 11.4+/-0.63 and 13.1+/-0.62, respectively. Goats on all diets digested most nutrients similarly and were on positive N, Ca and P balance. Lowered total as well as NH3-N levels in rumen liquor of W WNSKC-fed goats due to residual neem bitters was indicative of passage of more by-pass protein for digestion in the lower gut. Intake of pro tein and energy increased linearly with level of WWNSKC incorporation and was within stipulated NRC standards. Among blood and plasma consti tuents, glucose (P<0.01) (maybe because of residual neem bitters which exert antihyperglycemic effects), urea-N (P<0.01) and total protein ( P<0.05) were lower in both experimental groups. Rumen fermentation pat tern, urinary creatine and creatinine were comparable among the groups . Thus, WWNSKC can be incorporated in diets of growing goats up to 25% without deleterious effects on nutrient utilisation and metabolism.