Utilization of Calopogonium mucunoides and Cassava Peels in Feed Waffle Production: Implications for Phytochemical Characteristics and Safe Ruminant Nutrition

Résumé fourni par la source

The high cost and limited availability of conventional livestock feed ingredients have intensified the search for alternative feed resources that are affordable, sustainable, and nutritionally suitable for ruminant production. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and anti-nutritional factor profile of ruminant feed waffles formulated with varying inclusion levels of Calopogonium mucunoides and cassava peels. The experiment was conducted at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria. Four experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of crushed Calopogonium mucunoides (0, 7, 14, and 21%) and mashed cassava peels (7, 10, 13, and 16%) designated as S1, S2, S3, and S4, respectively. The feed mixtures were processed into waffles through drying, milling, and baking, after which phytochemical constituents were determined using standard analytical procedures. Results showed significant (P < 0.05) differences among treatments for tannin, saponin, oxalate, flavonoid, phenol, phytate, and cyanide concentrations. Tannin content ranged from 0.24 to 0.32 mg/100 g, while saponin values ranged from 1.35 to 1.42 mg/100 g. Oxalate concentration decreased from 3.85 mg/100 g in S1 to 3.65 mg/100 g in S2, whereas phenol content increased from 1.11 to 1.18 mg/100 g across treatments. Alkaloid concentration remained unchanged (3.80 mg/100 g) in all treatments. Cyanide concentration was markedly reduced in the processed diets, decreasing from 12.65 mg/100 g in S1 to 2.25–2.26 mg/100 g in the supplemented diets, indicating the effectiveness of processing in detoxification. The phytochemical values obtained were within tolerable ranges for ruminant animals and suggest minimal risk of adverse effects on animal health. It was concluded that the incorporation of Calopogonium mucunoides and cassava peels, coupled with drying, milling, and baking, effectively reduced selected anti-nutritional factors and produced feed waffles with acceptable phytochemical characteristics. The S2 formulation exhibited the most favorable balance between phytochemical safety and feed quality, indicating its potential as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative feed resource for ruminant production.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.