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The potential use of white star apple seeds (<i>Chrysophyllum albidum</i>) and physic nut (<i>Jatropha curcas</i>) as feed ingredients for rats
Abstract
Forty-two (42) young male and female albino rats (Rattus norwegicus) were used in a preliminary study to assess the potential of non-conventional local materials, white star apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) 'udara' seeds and physic nut (Jatropha curcas) as feed ingredients for livestock. 'Udara' seed or physic nut meal were added to 14% crude protein basal corn soya bean diets at the rates of 0,5,10, or 15 percent to replace some of the dietary maize and soya bean. All measured parameters: (average daily weight gain (ADG), feed/gain ratio, total feed intake and average daily fed intake) differed between rats and levels of treatment. The rats fed control diets (0% 'udara' seed or physic nut) and those fed diets containing 10 and 15% levels of 'udara' and 5, 10 and 15% levels of physic nut had negativeADG values. Feed/gain ratio of the rats on control diets (9.92) was similar to that of rats fed 5% udara, but was significantly (P < 0.05) superior to those of rats fed diets containing 10 and 15% of physic nut. Total feed and average daily intakes followed the same pattern. The rats fed control diets consumed significantly (P < 0.05) more feed than those rats fed diets containing 10 or 15% “udara”, or 5,10, 15% levels of physic nut. However, rats fed diets containing the 5% 'udara' seeds had similar (P > 0.05) total feed andADF with the rats on control diets. The rats fed diet containing 15% physic nut, had the least total feed and average daily feed intakes. The rats fed diet containing 15% physic nut, had the least total feed and average daily feed intakes. The results revealed that 'udara' seed could be incorporated into the diets of rats up to 5% level without deleterious effects while physic nut even at (5%) level could not be tolerated by the rats. The study points to the possibility of utilizing abundantly available and cheap 'udara' seeds in the diet of rats, strategy that possesses the potential to reduce the high cost of livestock diets.
Keywords: Albino Rats, White StarApple, Physic Nut,Average DailyWeight Gain, Feed/Gain Ratio.
