Effect of detoxified neem seed cake on carcass characteristics in growing Bannur lambs

Abstract

The present study was conducted to know the effect of two levels of detoxified neem (Azadirachta indica) seed cake (DNC) on the carcass characteristics of male lambs. Eighteen male lambs were randomly divided in three groups of six each with group I control concentrate containing soyabean meal (SBM) and group II and III fed with concentrate mixtures containing defatted and DNC at two levels DNC25 and DNC50 for five months. At the end of feeding trial, the sheep were slaughtered humanely and slaughter weight, carcass weight, dressing percentages, and percentage weight of various organs were calculated and analysed statistically. The mean±SE slaughter weight (kg) and carcass weight (kg) of sheep were 18.33±1.27 and 13.65±0.95 in group I, 17.68±1.28 and 13.15±1.03 in group II, 18.00±0.99 and 13.71±0.79 in group III, respectively. The dressing percentages on slaughter weight basis were 49.74±1.26, 49.69±1.04 and 51.94±0.55, respectively. No significant difference in the slaughter weight, carcass weight and dressing percentages between the three groups was observed. The percentage of slaughter weight of various organs like skin, head, feet, heart, lungs, spleen, testicles, kidney and liver showed no significant difference between the treatment and control groups. Thus, the detoxified neem seed cake can be fed to sheep as protein replacement without affecting the carcass characteristics, which will reduce the feed cost and improve the profitability of the sheep farmers in India.