Abstract:
The study evaluated the nutritive value of seeds of wild Senna obtusifolia plants as an alternative plant protein source in livestock diets. Proximate composition results showed high dry matter (92.50%), crude protein (29.54%) and crude fiber (10.18%), but low ether extract, nitrogen free extract, ash and calorific values. The vitamin content results showed poor vitamins B2 , B1, C and A but the seeds were rich in vitamin B3 (1.85 mg/100 g) values compared to other seeds. The seeds were also abundant in calcium (960 mg/100 g), potassium (1,200 mg/100 g), phosphorus (810 mg/100 g), sodium (600 mg/100 g), magnesium (640 mg/100 g), iron (234.60 mg/100 g), zinc (53.12 mg/100 g) and copper (10.48 mg/100 g) but low in molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, selenium, sulphur and fluorine. The amino acid profile reveals a high concentration of leucine (7.60 g/100 g protein), histidine (2.11 g/100 g protein), proline (2.33 g/100 g protein) and glycine (4.11 g/100 g protein) while the rest of the amino acids were of low concentration in the raw seed. The concentration of anti-nutrients in the legume seeds recorded high values (260, 185, 388.50 and 83.25 mg/100 g) for alkaloid, saponin, tannin and oxalate respectively, while phytate, hydrocyanic acid and phytohaemaglutinin levels were low. The high level of most anti-nutrients indicates the potential for interfering with the utilization of the nutrients by the animals. This therefore, creates a need for detoxification of the seeds through processing before using in livestock feeds.
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