Nutritional potentials of some tropical vegetable leaf meals: chemical characterization and functional properties

Three tropical vegetable species (Talium triangulare, Amaranthus cruentus and Telfairia occidentalis) were selected based on their availability and agronomic desirability. The freshly harvested vegetable leaves were subjected to 2 processing techniques (shredding and sundrying) before milling into the vegetable leaf meals (VLMs). The crude protein ranged from 19.9+1.8 to 35.1+1.7. The crude fibre ranged from 8.8+3.1 to 12.7+4.2. Ether extract (fat) had a wide range of 5.4+3.2 to 29.2+2.1. Ash contents had a range of 10.9+6.2 to 19.4+3.0. The nitrogen free extract ranged from 19.7+0.3 to as high as 43.5+0.7. Gross energy values had a range of 251.5MJKg-1 to 383.2MJKg-1. The mineral contents of the air-dried VLMs indicated that Ca, Mg, Na, K are the most abundant minerals with values as high as 2.0, 2.5, 7.1 and 4.8gkg-1DM for Ca, Mg, Na and K respectively in some samples analysed. The amino acid profiles of the VLMs indicated favourable nutritional balance except for lysine and methinone which appear marginal. The Water Absorption Capacity (WAC), Fat Absorption Capacity (FAC), Fat Emulsion Capacity (FEC) and Emulsion Stability (ES) were similar for the 3 VLMs. The values obtained for Foaming Capacity, Least Gelation Concentration and Foaming Stability after 30 minutes for the 3 VLMs were also similar. The protein solubility curves of all VLMs were similar at both alkaline and acid media with minimum solubility (isoelectric point) at between pH 4 and 5 for the VLMs.Keywords: Vegetable leaf meals, nutritional potentials, amino acid profil

Biochemical, nutritional and haematological implications of Telfairia occidentalis leaf meal as protein supplement in broiler starter diets

Freshly harvested Telfairia occidentalis matured leaves were processed by shredding, sun drying and milling. This product thereafter referred to as T. occidentalis leaf meal (TOLM) on analyses revealed (ondry matter basis) 35.14 ± 0.44% crude protein, 9.61 ± 0.01% crude fat, 12.68 ± 0.02% crude fibre, 10.87 ± 0.02% ash, 3.21 ± 0.07 kcal/g gross energy and 31.72 ± 0.57% nitrogen free extracts. Methionine and to a lesser extent, alanine, arginine, leucine, valine and aspartate were remarkably present. Traces of some anti-nutritional factors notably phytates and oxalates were detected. Dietary introduction of TOLM was at graduated levels of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%. Birds kept on 15% TOLM dietary inclusion level had thehighest average weight gain (WG) of 290.5 ± 12.3 g/chick. The feed conversion (FCR) and protein efficiency (PER) value of birds on 15% TOLM inclusion were similar (P > 0.05) to values obtained for thereference diet. The nitrogen utilization indices were similar (P > 0.05) for all diets. Organs weights, carcass characteristics, hematological parameters, serum and liver metabolites had similar values (P >0.05). Results of the study suggest that inclusion levels of about 15% TOLM in broiler starter diets may be nutritionally beneficial in poultry feeding and subsequently reduce the use of the expensive animalprotein sources in practical feed formulation

Extrapolating nutritional potentials of ensiled wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) leaf meal: proximate composition and functional properties

Tithonia diversifolia leaf was harvested, processed and ensiled for the purpose of determining the proximate and some functional properties. On proximate analyses, ensiled Tithonia diversifolia leaf meal (eTDLM) had crude protein value of 20.0%±3.61; crude fiber 19.0%±0.01; ether extract (lipid content) 4.0%±0.05 and ash content was an average of 16.7%±0.01. Nitrogen free extract (carbohydrate) was relatively high at 26.0%±0.01, while moisture content averaged 11.8%+0.01. Water absorption capacity (WAC) averaged 310.0%±1.0, while the fat absorption capacity (FAC) was 354.5%±0.1. Mean fat emulsion capacity and emulsion stability of the leaf meal were 42.5%±0.07 and 57.5%±0.1, respectively. Bulk density averaged 0.8 g/ml while foaming capacity (FC), foaming stability (FS) and least gelation concentration (LGC) averaged 11.0%±0.07, 3.0cm±0.7 and 8.0%±0.1, respectively. Comparison of the proximate composition and functional properties of eTDLM against known food agents established the potential usefulness of eTDLM in food systems and as a probable alternative feed ingredient in monogastric protein feed supplementation.Keywords: Anaerobic biodegradation, preliminary nutritional study, ensiled Tithonia diversifolia leaf mea

Nitrogen balance and morphometric traits of weanling pigs fed graded levels of wild sunflower (tithonia diversifolia) leaf meal

Leaves of Tithonia diversifolia (wild sunflower) were harvested, processed and subsequently referred to as Tithonia diversifolia leaf meal (TDLM). Proximate composition and amino acid analyses revealed that TDLM is a relative rich protein source at 20.6% crude protein (CP) content. Lysine, leucine and isoleucine were particularly abundant in TDLM and compared favourably with conventional protein sources such as groundnut cake and hen’s whole egg. Pre-feeding trial on standard grower pig diet for 10 days revealed uniform growth among the 24 Large White breed experimental pigs allotted into 4 treatments. Thereafter, a 63-day feeding trial was conducted using four diets containing 19.0% CP and digestible energy value of about 12.55MJ/kg. TDLM progressively replaced soybean at 0 (control), 10, 20 and 30% inclusion levels in diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. There was a significant reduction (p≥0.05) in daily feed consumption for pigs across the experimental diets with a range of 390.8 g/day in pigs on the control diet to 261.4 g/day in pigs on diet with 30% TDLM. Average daily weight gain (AWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) had a similar trend with AWG varying significantly (p≥0.05) from 114.3 g/day for pigs on the control diet to 11.7 g/day for pigs on diet with 30% TDLM. Nitrogen retention (NR) had the highest significant (p≥0.05) value of 2.87 g/N/pig/day for pigs on 10% TDLM followed by 2.26 g/N/pig/day for pigs on the control diet. There were negative net nitrogen retention values of -2.60 g/N/pig/day and -1.70 g/N/pig/day for pigs on 20% and 30% TDLM inclusion levels, respectively. Body length ranged from 55.3 to 61.8 cm; knee to floor ranged from 14.4 to 16.3 cm; and hock to floor ranged from 18.4 to 19.3 cm. Pigs on 10% TDLM based diet surpassed the control diet in body length. Other parameters (live weight, height at withers, chest depth and chest girth) had slightly varying (p≥0.05) values for pigs across different diets with pigs on the control diet and diet with 10% TDLM inclusion level having consistently higher values. The similarities in most parameters determined for pigs on control diet and 10% TDLM strongly suggests the suitability of TDLM at inclusion levels not exceeding 10%. We concluded that further processing techniques may be used to facilitate better utilization of TDLM in pig rations.Key words: Morphometric trait, nitrogen balance, pig

AMARANTHUS CRUENTUS LEAF MEAL AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT IN BROILER FINISHER DIETS PART 2. HAEMATOLOGICAL RESPONSES, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATIVE ORGAN WEIGHTS

ABSTRACT Amaranthus cruentus leaf meal (ACLM) was prepared by sun-drying freshly harvested Amaranthus cruentus leaves and milling. ACLM was thereafter included into finisher broiler diets as a protein source 0% (control), 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. All diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and were fed to 150 birds at the finisher phase of production for 15 days. Performance and nitrogen utilization of experimental birds were determined in the earlier part of this study. The present study examined the haematological parameters of the experimental birds which include packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hbc), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell volume (MCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Mean values for each parameter were similar across diets (P > 0.05) except for RBC and ESR. The total serum protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin ratio were determined for the serum and liver. All serum and liver metabolites examined had similar mean values (P > 0.05). Some carcass traits examined include the dressed weight as a percentage of the liveweight, eviscerated weight also as a percentage of the liveweight, thigh, drumstick, back, backfat, shank, wing, head and neck. Except for dressed weight and backfat, all other carcass traits measured were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. Some organs weights were taken relative to the body weight. Such organs include liver, kidney, heart, spleen, pancreas, bursa, gizzard and lungs. Only heart and gizzard had significant (P < 0.05) differences in their mean values. The relative weight, length and breadth of chest and thigh muscles were also measured and were found to be statistically similar (P > 0.05). The introduction of ACLM into broiler finisher diets did not predispose the birds to any known acute general infections, malformation of any kind or diseased condition

Preliminary analyses and amino acid profile of wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) leaves

Tithonia diversifolia (wild sunflower) leaves were harvested, sundried and milled to obtain Tithonia diversifolia leaf meal (TDLM). Samples of the TDLM were analysed for proximate composition, amino acid profile and certain antinutrients. Analysis revealed a composition of 20.6% CP, 18.9% CF, 4.0% EE, 42.5% CHO and 14.0% ash. Phytin was high at 79.10 mg/100 g. Saponin, oxalate and alkaloids were also present at 2.36, 1.76 and 1.23 mg/100 g, respectively. Tannin and flavonoid were in traces of 0.39 and 0.87mg/100g, respectively. The contents of lysine, arginine, aspartate, glutamate, methionine+cystine, isoleucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine were remarkably high at 5.3, 6.19, 13.32, 12.19, 2.60, 4.28, 7.55, 3.53 and 5.47g/100g protein. The ample presence of ANFs (phytins, oxalates, flavonoids and saponnins) portends a negativenutritional evaluation for TDLM as a potential non-ruminant feed ingredient. ANFs have been suggested as a probable militating factor hindering the digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AAs) in most plant products. The ample presence of some essential amino acids particularly isoleucine, leucine and lysine and other aromatic amino acids like phenylalanine and valine were remarkable suggestion of the potentiality of TDLM as a veritable alternative protein resource in non-ruminant feeding