<b>Proximate Analysis and Concentration of some Heavy Metals in selected Poultry Feeds in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria</b>

Abstract

Proximate analysis and some heavy metals determination were carried out in selected poultry feed samples used as starter, grower, layer and finisher which were obtained from Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The heavy metals contents were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and expressed in mg/kg while the proximate composition were expressed in %. Mean to standard deviation of the proximate composition of the feeds analyzed shows moisture content ranged from 11.33±4.48% - 04.98±01.58%, ash content 20.47±12.67% - 09.59±2.95%, lipid ranged between 06.91±01.92% to 4.14±1.90%, crude protein from 24.26±04.16% - 16.44±11.29%, crude fibre 15.90±16.46% - 03.41±00.17%, carbohydrate 50.70±21.63% -  39.67±10.68%. The mean results of the heavy metals concentration ranged from (2.26±0.67 to 1.20±0.51)mg/kg, (1.63±0.43 to 1.37±0.28)mg/kg and (0.56±0.26 to 0.47±0.13)mg/kg for cadmium, nickel and lead respectively. Ni and Pb levels in the feeds were within the permissible limits while Cd level in all the samples exceeded the permissible limit by regulatory bodies. These results were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p<0.05).

Keywords: Proximate composition; Heavy metals; Poultry feed; AAS,