Asian Research Journal of Agriculture

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of raw and soaked-toasted Tallow seeds meals on proximate composition, mineral contents, amino acids profile, anti-nutrients and growth performance of starter broiler chickens fed dietary levels of 0, 10 and 20% soaked-toasted Tallow seed meal (STTSM). Proximate analysis, amino acids profile, minerals and anti nutrients contents of the raw and soaked-toasted tallow seeds were carried out. Three hundred and sixty (360) day-old broiler chicks of the Amo Strain were used to evaluate growth performance. The experimental layout was a completely randomized design with three treatments, each with three replicates (40 birds/ replicate). The inclusion levels of STTSM in the diets were 0, 10 and 20% (w/w). The results of the proximate analysis of the raw tallow seeds were high in crude protein (26.20%), moisture (10.58%), fat (16.21%), crude fibre (11.86%), ash (3.72), neutral detergent fibre (49.72%), acid detergent fibre (37.31%), hemi-cellulose (12.41%). with decrease in nitrogen free extracts (42.01%). The results of the element concentrations in raw and STTSM samples were (%): Ca (0.92-0.75), Mg (0.30-0.27), Na (0.41-32), S (0.17-14), P (0.22-14), K (1.00-0.66) and Fe (123-118 ppm). The results of the anti nutrients (mg/100 g) of the raw sample revealed the presence of tannin (9.56), phytic acid (25.49), hydrogen cyanide (5.08), alkaloids (8.39),oxalate (16.36) and flavonoids (4.32) compared with the STTSM showing complete elimination of tannin, saponin, hydrogen cyanide and insignificant presence of alkaloids (0.05 mg/100 g), phytic acid 0.02 mg/100 g), oxalate (0.02 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (0.01 mg/100 g). The analyzed amino acids results showed that glutamic acid (8.03-7.50 g/100 g) and arginine 4.25-4.62 g/100 g protein had the highest proportion. The soaked-toasted seeds showed reduction in amino acid profile compared with the raw sample. ANOVA showed that final body weight, body weight gain, total feed intake, daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds fed 0% STTSM diet were comparable (p>0.05) with those fed STTSM based diets. Soaked-toasted Tallow seed reduced the anti nutritional factors and improved the nutritional quality of the seed and enhanced growth of starter broiler chicks without adverse effect on growth performance and feed intake. This seed can therefore be incorporated in animal feeding with proper processing methods.