NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ANIMAL FEEDS: PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITIONS

Abstract

Whole seeds (WS) and dehulled seeds (DS) of Moringa olelfera Lam were characterised with respect to their proximate composition, energy value and mineral contents. The results showed that WS contained on the average: Dry matter (DM), 95.00 ± 0.20; ash, 4.94 ± 0.12; crude protein (CP), 27.83 ± 1.18; crude lipid (CL), 25.50 ± 0.99; nitrogen free extracts (NFE), 21.61 ± 2.44 and crude fibre (CF), 20.12 ± 0.81 % DM ± SD. The corresponding values for DS were 94.89 ± 0.31; 4.88 ± 0.02; 35.57 ± 0.72; 35.02 ± 0.83; 9.47 ± 1.38 and 15.04± 0.09°1.. DM ± SD. The energy values were 427.25 ± 4.64 and 495.42 ± 3.71 kcal/I OOgrespectively. The seed contained appreciable levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus as well as some micro minerals such as iron and zinc. The levels of these minerals were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in WS than DS. It could be concluded from the results of this study that the seeds of Moringa oleifera have the potential to be used as ingredients in feed formulation for livestock.