PROXIMATE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL, HATCHERY BY-PODUCT MEAL, FISH MEAL, AND FEATHER MEAL

Abstract

The Study was designed to evaluate the proximate and mineral composition of Poultry by-product meal, Hatchery by-product meal, Fish offal meal, and Feather meal. Poultry by-products, hatchery by products, fish offals and chicken feathers were subjected to different processing techniques involving washing, cooking (for about 1 hour, 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 40 minutes respectively, at 100oC), Oven drying for 5 hours at about 184oC. The processed sample meals were analyzed for proximate composition and mineral profile at the biochemistry Laboratory. The result showed that Poultry byproduct meal, hatchery by product meal, fish offal meal and feather meal had dry matter values 92.16, 88.67, 86.90 and 96.55% respectively; Crude Protein content ranging 22.12 - 49.31%; Crude fibre 0.04 - 14.79%; Oil content 0.74 - 8.78%; and Ash 5.47 - 16.35%. Calcium content 0.30 - 1.36%, Phosphorus 0.34 - 1.52%, Potassium 0.11 - 0.27%, Iron 0.75 - 2.21%, Magnesium 0.57 - 0.62%, and Copper 0.09 - 0.21%, all within the minimum and satisfactory levels as recommended for animal products. It was concluded that these unconventional feedstuffs are a good source of animal proteins as they all contain CP values above 20%, and hence can be a replacement for plant protein in livestock diet.