Chemical Evaluation Of Mucuna cochinchinensis As Alternative Protein Feeds Stuff

Abstract

As preliminary steps to investigating the nutritional potentials of Mucuna cochinchinensis as an alternative protein feedstuff, some chemical analyses were carried out on the raw seed. These include analysis for proximate composition and gross energy. Also there were investigations into its content of some anti-nutritional factors as well as its mineral contents. The anti-nutritional factors investigated included hydrocynic acid (HCN), tannin, hemagglutinin and trypsin-inhibitor. Mucuna cochinchinensis was found to be moderately high on dry matter basis in crude protein (30.06%), gross energy (4.6 Kcal/g). Its contents of calcium and phosphorus were low 0.08 mg/g and 1.07mg/g respectively. The raw seeds were also low in cyanide (40mg/kg), moderately high in hemagglutinin (4,247 Hu/g), low in trypsin inhibitor content (7.47mg/g) and tannin (5.54 mg/g). These show that M. cochinchinensis could be used as feedstuff but it would need some kind of processing to eliminate the effect the anti-nutritional factors might have on any feed in which it is incorporated

Journal of Applied Chemistry and Agricultural Research Vol. 4 1997: pp. 37-41