Anti-Nutrients-Nutrients Profiles of Bambara Groundnut as Feeding Stuff and Implications in Nutrition and Health of the Fed Broiler-Chicken

Abstract

The chemical composition, anti-nutrients and nutrients of raw Bambara groundnut seeds (BGNS) were assessedand the raw and processed BGNS (water-washed and ensiled), were subjected to biological, nutritional and biochemical evaluation using DOC broiler chicks as test animal modela. Native BGNS was found to contain some high levels of secondary metabolites, alkaloids, flavonoids, haemagglutinins/lectins, trypsin inhibitors, saponins. High concentration of the primary metabolites, carbohydrate, protein, fat/oil, minerals, vitamins was as well recorded including the nuts nutraceuticals, carotenoids, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), total phenolic content (TAC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Most of the measured phytochemical anti-nutrients and/or toxic factors or secondary metabolites could elicit harmful biological effects when ingested at certain levels in diet. Dietary inclusion of untreated BGNS beyond 10% in this study reduced parameters of feed intake and growth rate, SGR(P < 0.05). Feed consumption and growth rate on the conventional diet were superior to those on the dietary raw and processed BGNS (P < 0.05). Dietary intakes of raw and processed BGNS improved some biochemical indices while reducing others such as those of the detoxifying tissue soluble liver enzymes (P < 0.05). Further research works are recommended to obtain conclusive results on some biological and biochemical parameters investigated in this study.