Neem (Azadirachta indica)
Local name: Neem
Neem trees grow all over India. The plant remains green throughout the year and is drought resistant. Large quantities of leaves become available if judiciously collected. Neem is a large and evergreen tree with edible fruits and aromatic leaves found throughout southern Asia. A mature tree can produce 350 kg of leaves a year, which may be used for feeding cattle during famines.
Nutritive value
The neem leaves are not relished by the animals. Buffaloes consume about four to six kilogram. The nutritive value is 6.19% DCP and 50% TDN. After the oil has been pressed from the seeds, the cake is used as fertilizer, but it can also be used as feed. Up to 10% neem cake may be included in concentrates for cattle and up to 5% for poultry. The oilcake has a very bitter taste. Leaves and cakes are used as anthelmintic for goats and is said to give healthy looking animals when fed.
Deleterious factor
The terpenoids azadirachtin and limonin impart a bitter taste and the leaves of A. indica are therefore not relished by cattle.