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Effect of dietary
substitution with solvent extracted neem seed cake on growth
and nitrogen metabolism of albino rats (wistar strain)
D. B. James1*, D. A. Ameh1 and A.
S. Agbaji2
1Department
of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
2National
Research Institute for Chemical Technology Bassawa, Zaria
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
dbjams16187@yahoo.com.
Tel: +23408035881253.
Accepted 26
May, 2009 |
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A study was conducted with 24 albino rats (wistar strain)
ages 3 weeks to determine the effect of substitution of
diets with processed neem seed cake on growth, performance
and nitrogen metabolism of rats. Group 1 and those of groups
II and III were fed experimental diets containing water, 75%
methanol and 75% ethanol processed neem seed cake,
respectively. Two groups were given standard and commercial
diet (Pfizer Nigeria Limited). The diets were iso-nitrogenous
and iso-caloric. The feeding experiment was conducted for
two weeks (7days preliminary and 7days collection). Except
for methanol neem seed cake (MNSC diet), there was
significant (p<0.05) decrease in daily weight gain, protein
efficiency ratio and feed efficiency ratio for all animals
fed with processed neem seed cakes compared to standard
protein. Nitrogen intake and urinary nitrogen excretion of
processed neem seed cakes was significantly (p<0.05) lower
than that of standard, but there was no difference in
faeceal nitrogen excretion. Nutritional indices (true
nitrogen digestibility, biological value and protein
utilization) for all the processed neem seed cakes were
comparable with standard diet.
Key
words:
Neem seed, processed cake, substitution, solvent extraction,
nitrogen metabolism, albino rats. |
