ABSTRACT

The need to ascertain the nutritive potential of some unconventional animal protein for poultry production became imperative because of the increase in the ] price and consequently in the cost of livestock feeds. Some unconventional animal I J protein sources viz Shrimps, Squilla, Crayfish, Pellonula (sardine fish), crab, Mudskipper, local fishmeal, toads, frogs and grasshoppers was selected for study. All the test materials except the local fishmeal were obtained fresh and wet. The test materials were killed after collection, sun-dried for few days followed by ovendrying at about 70-80° C Mudskipper was smoked dried before oven drying at the same temperature range. All the samples prepared were subjected to chemical analysis using AOAC procedures while ether extract was determined by the 3 soxhlet technique. Ash from each of the samples was analyzed for their mineral composition. Analysis of magnesium, zinc and iron were done by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Phosphorus was also determined. Each of these parameters was analyzed in duplicate and results expressed as average of each l element. The crude protein (CP) content of samples ranged from 28.14 (Crab) to 61.38% (Local fish meal). The crude fiber content was generally low in all the samples with the highest value (2.38%) observed in grasshopper meal. The GE (kcal/g) value was highest for Squilla (2.974), followed closely by crayfish (2.874), Pellonula (2.852), Mudskipper (2.836), local fish meal (1.828). Shrimp waste meal recorded the least value of 1.312kcal/g. The local fish meal had the highest percentage of calcium (2.56%), followed by Pellonula (1.94%), Mudskipper (1.89%), Crab (0.93%) and Crayfish (0.86%). The phosphorous followed the same a trend as the calcium. From the foregoing, there is a strong indication that these j materials can substantially be used as probable protein source in poultry ration .