Nutritional contents of processed Delonix regia seeds incubated in vitro with Pennisetum purpureum

Abstract

The effect of processing on proximate, mineral, anti-nutritional compositions, gas production characteristics, methane production, predicted metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and short chain fatty acids production of Delonix regia seeds incubated with Pennisetum purpureum were determined. Five treatments (T1: mixture of soaked Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T2: mixture of raw Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T3: mixture of roasted Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum; T4: mixture of boiled Delonix regia seed and Pennisetum purpureum and T5:100% Pennisetum purpureum which serves as control) were designed. In vitro gas production techniques for 24 hours were used to determine the nutritive value of processed 50% Delonix regia seed and 50% Pennisetum purpureum. The crude protein ranged from 13.38 to 15.71g/100g DM among the treatments while crude fibre was between 20.10 and 21.40g/100g DM, ether extract ranged from 1.90 to 3.12g/100g DM and ash 7.77 to 12.34g/100g DM. Calcium ranged from (2.34 - 3.61%), magnesium ranged (2.90 – 3.48%), sodium (2.05 – 2.91%) and phosphorus (0.88 – 1.12%). It was observed generally that T2 recorded the highest among the treatments while the values obtained for the heat treated seeds were lower than the raw. Oxalates ranged between (0.23% - 0.32%), phytates (0.29 – 0.43%), tannin (0.03 – 0.08%) and saponnin (0.36 – 0.49%). Methane (ml/200mg DM) production indicated T3 (50% roasted Delonix regia seed and 50% Pennisetum purpureum) was highest. The potential gas production 'a+b' ranged from 12.33 to 28.33mL/200mg DM). The highest potential gas production 'a+b' value of 28.33mL/200mg DM was obtained in T1 compared to other dietary treatment. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) ranged between 70.23 – 91.02% while the rate of fermentation was between 0.51 and 1.18ml/hr. The rate of fermentation was directly proportional to dry matter digestibility (DMD); the soaked recorded the highest value. Processing enhanced the nutritional contents of Delonix regia seeds. The result obtained showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments. In conclusion, soaking the seeds of Delonix regia had beter nutritional contents and has the potential for dry season feeding.