CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME AGRO BY PRODUCTS:POTENTIALS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RUMINANT ANIMAL NUTRITION

Abstract

The study determined the proximate, mineral composition, fibre fractions and anti nutritional factors content of Bambara nut offal, cowpea seed coat, cassava peels meal, cashew nut shell, mango seed kernel. The samples analyzed were sourced from and prepared for analyses in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria, The Standard analytical methods of (AOAC, 2005) was used to determine the Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), Crude Fibre (CF) and Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE). The fibre fractions, Hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were determined using the method of Van Soest et al., (1991).The minerals were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, the anti nutritional factors were determined using methods described for determining each of them . Values for crude protein, nitrogen free extracts, hemicellulose and neutral detergent fibre for Bambara nut shell, were 27.10%, 60.76%, 18.78% and 46.50% , for cowpea seed coat it was , 22.40, 58.28, 9,75% and 35.60% . Cassava peels meal had 5.81, 70.88, 14.12 and 41`.50%., cashew nut shell had 6.21,36.60, 7.31 and 24.2%1. For the mango seed kernel, the percentages were 6.96, 70.92, 4.64, and 11.42%, respectively. The mineral contents were 1.88 mg/g Sodium in Bambara nut offal, 5.90mg/g potassium in cowpea seed coat, 4.30mg/g Calcium in cassava peels meal, 5.11mg/g magnesium in cashew nut shell and 4.58 mg/g iron in mango seed kernel
The anti nutritional factors reported were 1.20mg/kg tannins in Bambara nut offal, 0.65mg/kg phytate in cowpea seed coat, 8.00mg/kg saponin in cashew nut shell, 0.15mg/kg alkaloids in cassava peels meal and 0.05 mg/kg hydrogen cynide in mango seed kernel, It was concluded that all the agro by products examined contain fairly good array of nutrients suitable for ruminant feeding. Bambara nut offal appears to have the best variety of nutrients. All the agro by-products determined can serve as components for ruminant feeds. Treatment is recommended to improve their nutritional content, palatability and digestibility. Further studies should focus on methods of removing or reducing the levels of the anti-nutritional factors present in the by-products.