Nutrient standardization and characterization of cassava plant meal

Abstract

The study standardized and assessed the nutrient profile of composite Cassava Plant Meal (CPM) with a view to determining its suitability as feedstuff for livestock. Three CPM products were developed from cassava (TMS) 30572 harvested at 24 months. The sun-dried unpeeled cassava root meal, cassava leaf meal and tender cassava stem meal were mixed at ratios 2:1, 2.5:1 and 3:1 while the ratio of the leaves to tender stems was 5:1 across the three CPM products. The tender cassava stem were harvested at 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm from top of the plant, unpeeled cassava root meal and leaf meal were analysed for proximate composition. The proximate composition, minerals, amino acids, vitamins and fatty acids of CPM products and maize were determined using standard chemical procedures. Results showed that cassava tender stem harvested at 5 cm had the best (P < 0.05) nutrient composition with highest crude protein (7.24 %). The proximate composition of cassava fractions differed significantly (P < 0.05). The proximate composition showed that CPM products had comparable (P > 0.05) crude protein and nitrogen free extract values as maize. CPM products showed superiority (P < 0.05) in calcium over maize meal though maize meal was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in phosphorus (0.237 %) compared to CPM products. The proline, valine, tryptophan and isoleucine amino acids differed significantly (P < 0.05) across the CPM products and maize. CPM products are significantly (P <0.05) higher in vitamins and fatty acids than maize. In conclusion, Cassava plant meal product 1 had comparable nutrient profile as maize and Cassava tender stem meal harvested at 5 cm from top of the plant be included in the products.

Key words: Cassava plant meal products, Maize, Nutrients.