ABSTRACT
The effects of different processing techniques on Gmelina arborea leaves (GAL) for the maximum utilization as livestock feed were evaluated. The investigation was carried out in three phases. In phase one, the leaves of Gmelina arborea were collected and processed as fresh (T1), chopped (T2), sun-dried (T3), air-dried (T4) and boiled-dried (T5). In phase two, the processed samples were used for proximate, mineral, and phytochemical analyses to determine the Nutritional Profile (NP) and the anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) of GAL. In the third phase, data collected for the NP and ANFs of the various processing methods were statistically analyzed using the Analysis of Variance and significant means separation techniques. The values obtained for proximate, minerals and ANFs were significantly (P<0.05) different among the processing techniques. The crude protein (CP) values were significantly highest in the T1 and T2 followed by those in T4, T3 and T5 respectively. On the ANFs, tannin, alkaloid, saponin, oxalate, flavonoid and steroid were detected and their concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) different among the processing techniques. T5 had the lowest significant (P<0.05) concentrations in all ANF values determined, followed by T4 and T3 except for oxalate and steroid. The concentration of ANFs were high in all the ANFs present in the T1 and T2 techniques. The study reveals that the processing techniques adopted do not reduce the nutritional values but could significantly (P<0.05) reduce the anti-nutritional components, making GAL suitable for a sustainable livestock feed resource for livestock production. |
KEYWORDS: |
Gmelina arborea Leaves, Techniques Nutrition, Processed, Feed, Livestock |
