Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)

Datasheet

Description

Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans

Common names

Tamarind, tamarind tree [English]; tamarindo [Spanish/Italian]; tamarinier [French]; tamarindeiro, tamarineiro, tamarineira [Portuguese]; tamarinde [Afrikaans/Dutch]; Tamarindenbaum [German]; asam jawa [Indonesian]; asem jawa [Javanese]; Tsamiya [Hausa]; raqay [Somali]; Sampalok [Tagalog]; Demirhindi [Turkish]; تمر هندي [Arabic]; তেঁতুল [Bengali]; မန်ကျည်း [Burmese]; 酸豆 [Chinese]; આમલી [Gujarati]; תמרינדי [Hebrew]; इमली [Hindi]; タマリンド [Japanese]; ಹುಣಸೆ [Kannada]; 타마린드 [Korean]; പുളി [Malayalam]; चिंच [Marathi]; ਇਮਲੀ [Punjabi]; Тамаринд [Russian]; සියඹලා [Sinhala]; புளி [Tamil]; చింత [Telugu]; มะขาม [Thai]

Species

Tamarindus indica L. [Fabaceae]

Synonyms

Tamarindus umbrosa Salisb., Tamarindus officinalis Hook, Tamarindus occidentalis Gaertn. (USDA, 2009)

Related feed(s)

Description

The tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is a usually evergreen legume tree. It grows slowly, up to 25-30 m high, and can live as long as 200 years. Leaves are compound, divided in 10-18 opposite and oblong leaflets. Orange-yellow or pinkish flowers are grouped in racemes. Fruits occur 7-12 years after sowing. They are rusty-coloured pods, 10-18 cm long x 2 cm broad (NRC, 2008). The pods contain a sour pulp surrounding the seeds. They are edible and used in many culinary recipes around the world.

Distribution

The tamarind is native to the drier savannahs of East Africa and Madagascar. It may have been introduced in tropical Asia by Arabian traders (Ecoport, 2009). It is now widespread throughout the tropics. It is very common in Central America and the Caribbean, and cultivated in Australia and Florida. It can withstand drought by shedding its leaves, as well as short occasional floodings and slight saline sprays (near the sea coasts). It is very sensitive to frost and does not grow well under 7°C.

Forage management

The tree normally yields about 150 kg pods/year, but this can be as high as 200-300 kg (Orwa et al., 2009; Coronel, 1991).

Environmental impact

Because of its deep roots, the tamarind is suitable to stabilize soils and to make windbreaks. It is also a firebreak since grass does not grow under its dense crown (Ecoport, 2009).

Nutritional aspects

Nutritional attributes

Tamarind foliage, pods, seeds and pod husks are used as feedstuffs. The foliage has a high forage value, but it is rarely lopped for this purpose because it affects fruit yields.

Ruminants

Tamarind foliage

In a sheep trial, tamarind foliage was one of the most palatable species among 40 Ethiopian multipurpose trees (Kaitho et al., 1996).

Leaf meal

Leaf meal is a suitable replacer of sunflower seed cake in small ruminants diets during the dry season (Komwihangilo et al., 2005).

Seed meal

The seed meal has been recommended as a source of protein for cattle (Barman et al., 2006). The high tannin content of tamarind pod husks may be useful to depress methane production in crossbred dairy cows (Bhatta et al., 2001).

Pod husks

Dairy cows fed a diet containing 7.5% pod husks showed a higher live weight gain and milk yield than animals fed a compouned feed mixture without tamarind seed husks (Bhatta et al., 2000).

Pigs

Water-soaked or cooked tamarind seeds have been used in the rations of finisher pigs and reproductive sows without negative effects on live weight gain or reproductive performance (Ravi et al., 2000; Ravi et al., 2006).

Poultry

In broilers, tamarind seeds fed at a 30% inclusion rate in the diet had negative effects on broilers, including a lower feed intake, a lower daily gain and a higher mortality rate (Panigrahi et al., 1989).

In laying hens, the inclusion of 2% tamarind seeds in the diet had positive effects and led to a lower yolk cholesterol content and higher results in feed conversion, egg production and egg weight (Chowdhury et al., 2005).

Other species

In the southern Indian states, cooked tamarind seeds are fed to draught animals (Orwa et al., 2009).

Nutritional tables

Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Tamarind, aerial part

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Crude protein	% DM	13.9				1
NDF	% DM	48.4				1
ADF	% DM	32.4				1
Lignin	% DM	12.1				1
Ash	% DM	7.3				1

Secondary metabolites	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin)	g/kg DM	8.0				1

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
a (N)	%	8.0				1
b (N)	%	76.4				1
c (N)	h-1	0.081				1
Nitrogen degradability (effective, k=4%)	%	59					*
Nitrogen degradability (effective, k=6%)	%	52					*

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Kaitho et al., 1997

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:15

Tamarind leaves

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	37.1	15.1	25.2	54.2	3
Crude protein	% DM	11.8	2.1	8.7	15.8	12
Crude fibre	% DM	23.3	4.9	15.6	29.2	10
NDF	% DM	54.8	6.6	42.5	60.3	6
ADF	% DM	43.6	9.0	32.2	59.6	6
Lignin	% DM	23.5	8.5	13.4	36.5	5
Ether extract	% DM	5.9	2.1	3.5	9.6	9
Ash	% DM	7.6	2.1	4.9	11.9	12
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	18.8					*

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	18.7	7.4	4.3	28.6	9
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	2.1	1.4	0.9	5.2	9
Potassium	g/kg DM	7.9	3.4	4.8	14.3	6
Magnesium	g/kg DM	3.7	1.0	2.6	5.6	7
Zinc	mg/kg DM	117				1
Copper	mg/kg DM	7				1
Iron	mg/kg DM	635				1

Amino acids	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Arginine	% protein	5.9				1
Cystine	% protein	0.9				1
Glycine	% protein	5.0				1
Histidine	% protein	2.3				1
Isoleucine	% protein	5.2				1
Leucine	% protein	9.2				1
Lysine	% protein	5.9				1
Methionine	% protein	1.3				1
Phenylalanine	% protein	5.9				1
Threonine	% protein	4.8				1
Tyrosine	% protein	3.6				1
Valine	% protein	5.9				1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Busson, 1963; CIRAD, 1991; Gowda et al., 2004; Kibont et al., 1993; Malik et al., 1967; Orskov et al., 1992; Sen, 1938

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:15

Tamarind seeds

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Dry matter	% as fed	91.0				1
Crude protein	% DM	15.4	2.5	13.5	18.3	3
Crude fibre	% DM	26.4				1
NDF	% DM	51.0				1
ADF	% DM	22.6		7.4	37.9	2
Lignin	% DM	6.6				1
Ether extract	% DM	7.0	1.6	5.3	8.4	3
Ash	% DM	2.7	0.6	2.2	3.5	4
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	20.3					*

Minerals	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Calcium	g/kg DM	3.0	2.5	1.4	6.7	4
Phosphorus	g/kg DM	1.7	1.0	0.8	3.0	4
Magnesium	g/kg DM	2.5		1.5	3.5	2
Manganese	mg/kg DM	36				1
Zinc	mg/kg DM	69		19	119	2
Copper	mg/kg DM	8		1	15	2
Iron	mg/kg DM	303				1

Amino acids	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Alanine	% protein	4.3				1
Arginine	% protein	6.6				1
Aspartic acid	% protein	11.3				1
Cystine	% protein	3.2				1
Glutamic acid	% protein	18.4				1
Glycine	% protein	8.8				1
Histidine	% protein	3.3				1
Isoleucine	% protein	4.5				1
Leucine	% protein	7.5				1
Lysine	% protein	6.5				1
Methionine	% protein	1.2				1
Phenylalanine	% protein	4.8				1
Proline	% protein	5.3				1
Serine	% protein	5.9				1
Threonine	% protein	3.2				1
Tyrosine	% protein	5.7				1
Valine	% protein	4.4				1

Secondary metabolites	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Tannins (eq. tannic acid)	g/kg DM	29.6				1
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin)	g/kg DM	37.7		13.7	61.8	2

Ruminant nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant	%	85.7					*
Energy digestibility, ruminants	%	84.9					*
DE ruminants	MJ/kg DM	17.3					*
ME ruminants	MJ/kg DM	13.9					*

Pig nutritive values	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig	%	48.7					*
DE growing pig	MJ/kg DM	9.9					*

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Barman et al., 2006; Gowda et al., 2004; Panigrahi et al., 1989; Sen, 1938

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:15

Tamarind hulls

Main analysis	Unit	Avg	SD	Min	Max	Nb
Crude protein	% DM	7.2				1
Crude fibre	% DM	20.1				1
NDF	% DM	75.5				1
ADF	% DM	72.5				1
Lignin	% DM	42.2				1
Ether extract	% DM	0.3				1
Ash	% DM	2.5				1
Gross energy	MJ/kg DM	18.2					*

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Bhatta et al., 2000

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:15

References

Barman, K. ; Rai, S. N., 2006. Utilization of tanniniferous feeds. 1. Chemical composition, tannin fractionation, amino acid and mineral profiles and in vitro digestibility of certain Indian agro-industrial byproducts. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 76 (1): 71-80
Bhatta, R. ; Krishnamoorthy, U. ; Mohammed, F., 2000. Effect of feeding tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seed husk as a source of tannin on dry matter intake, digestibility of nutrients and production performance of crossbred dairy cows in mid-lactation. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 83 (1): 67-74
Bhatta, R. ; Krishnamoorthy, U. ; Mohammed, F., 2001. Effect of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) seed husk tannins on in vitro rumen fermentation. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 90 (3-4): 143-152
Busson, F., 1963. Etudes biologiques et chimiques sur les végétaux alimentaires de l'Afrique tropicale occidentale dans leurs relations avec le milieu géographique et humain. Qualitas Pl. Mater. veg., 10 (1-4): 109-132
Chowdhury, S. R. ; Sarker, D. K. ; Chowdhury, S. D. ; Smith, T. K. ; Roy, P. K. ; Wahid, M. A., 2005. Effects of dietary tamarind on cholesterol metabolism in laying hens. Poult. Sci., 84 (1): 56-60
Coronel, R. E., 1991. Tamarindus indica L.. In: Verheij, E.W.M. and Coronel, R.E. (Editors). Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 2: Edible fruits and nuts. Pudoc, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 298-301
Dhok, A. P.; Rekhate, D. H.; Wankhade, S. G., 2005. Mineral status of goats in relation to common tree leaves fed in the Akola district. Indian J. Anim. Sci., 75 (1): 77-80
Ecoport, 2009. Ecoport database. Ecoport
El-Siddig, K. ; Gunasena, H.P.M. ; Prasad, B.A. ; Pushpakumara, D.K.N.P. ; Ramana, K.V.R. ; Vijayanand, P. ; Williams, J.T., 2006. Tamarind, Tamarindus indica. Southampton Centre for Underutilised Crops, Southampton, UK
Grant, G. ; More, L. J. ; McKenzie, N. H. ; Dorward, P. M. ; Stewart, J. C. ; Telek, L. ; Pusztai, A., 1991. A survey of the nutritional and haemagglutination properties of several tropical seeds. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 3 (3): 24-34
Kaitho, R. J. ; Umunna, N. N. ; Nsahlai, I. V. ; Tamminga, S. ; Bruchem, J. van; Hanson, J. ; Wouw, M. van de, 1996. Palatability of multipurpose tree species: effect of species and length of study on intake and relative palatability by sheep. Agrofor. Syst., 33 (3): 249-261
Kaitho, R. J. ; Umunna, N. N. ; Nsahlai, I. V. ; Tamminga, S. ; Bruchem, J. van, 1998. Nitrogen in browse species: ruminal degradability and post-ruminal digestibility measured by mobile nylon bag and in vitro techniques. J. Sci. Food Agric., 76 (4): 488-498
Komwihangilo, D. M. ; Chenyambuga, S. W. ; Lekule, F. P. ; Mtenga, L. A. ; Muhikambele, V. R. M., 2005. Comparison of indigenous browses and sunflower seed cake supplementation on intake and growth performance of dual-purpose goats fed Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay,. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 18 (7): 966-972
Malik, M. Y. ; Sheik, A. A. ; Shah, W. A., 1967. Chemical composition of indigenous fodder tree leaves. Pakistan J. Sci., 19 (4): 171-174
NRC, 2008. Lost Crops of Africa. Volume III Fruits. National Research Council, USA
Ole-Miaron, J. O., 2003. The Maasai ethnodiagnostic skill of livestock diseases: a lead to traditional bioprospecting. J. Ethnopharm., 84 (1): 79-83
Onana, J., 1995. Les ligneux fourragers du Nord-Cameroun. I. Inventaire et phénologie. (Browse trees of north Cameroon. I. Inventory and phenology). Rev. Elev. Méd. Vét. Pays Trop., 48 (2): 213-219
Ørskov, E. R. ; Nakashima, Y. ; Abreu, J. M. F. ; Kibon, A. ; Tuah, A. K., 1992. Data on DM degradability of feedstuffs. Studies at and in association with the Rowett Research Organization, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK. Personal Communication
Orwa, C.; Mutua, A.; Kindt, R.; Jamnadass, R.; Anthony, S., 2009. Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide version 4.0. World Agroforestry Centre, Kenya
Panigrahi, S. ; Bland, B. ; Carlaw, P. M., 1989. The nutritive value of tamarind seeds for broiler chicks. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 22: 285-293
Pugalenthi, M. ; Vadivel, M. V. ; Gurumoorthi, P. ; Janardhanan, K., 2004. Comparative nutritional evaluation of little known legumes, Tamarindus indica, Erythrina indica and Sesbania bispinosa. Trop. Subtrop. Agroecosyst., 4 (3): 107-123
Ravi, A. ; Rao, D. S. ; Parthasarathy, M. ; Rao, Z. P., 2000. Utilization of water soaked tamarind seed in the diet of pregnant crossbred gilts. Indian J. Anim. Nutr., 17 (3): 227-231
Ravi, A. ; Rao, D. S. ; Yedukondalu, R., 2006. Effect of feeding water soaked or cooked tamarind seed kernel on growth, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics of pigs.. Anim. Nutr. Feed Technol., 6 (1): 9-17
Sen, K. C., 1938. The nutritive values of Indian cattle feeds and the feeding of animals. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Dehli, Bulletin No. 25, 1-30
USDA, 2009. GRIN - Germplasm Resources Information Network. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland

Datasheet citation

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2015. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica). Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/249 Last updated on October 12, 2015, 11:48

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)

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Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)