Chemical Composition of Neem (Azadiractha indica) Plant Parts as Feed Resources for Ruminants

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the proximate and phytochemical compositions of Neem (Azadirachta indica) plant leaves, seeds and stem bark. Fresh matured neem leaves, seeds and bark were harvested, air dried and ground into meal. The meals were analyzed for their proximate and phytochemical compositions. The stem bark and leaves had significantly (p<0.05) higher dry matter values than the seeds. The leaf had significantly (p<0.05) higher crude protein and ash values than the bark and seed. Values for acid and neutral detergent fibres, and acid detergent lignin were significantly (p<0.05) different among the samples with the bark recording the highest followed by the leaves. The alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and saponin values were significantly (p<0.05) different from each plant part with the bark having the highest value followed by the leaf. It is concluded that the high crude protein content of Neem leaf and the low phytochemical values of the seed and leaf relative to the bark should be exploited as feed resources for ruminants.