Waste to wealth: Tigernut discards as an underutilized feed resources

Agbabiaka L. A.; Oguntokun M. O.; Ekeocha C. A.

Agbabiaka L. A. Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Imo State University
Oguntokun M. O. Animal nutrition, Biochemistry Unit. Federal Univ. of Tech. Akure, Ondo State
Ekeocha C. A. Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri

Keywords: Tigernut, Discard meals, Phytochemical, Nutrients assay, Feed resources

Abstract

Phytochemical and Nutrients assay of raw and fermented tigernut discard meals coded as RTDM and FTDM respectively were studied using standard methods. Results of the proximate analyses showed that FTDM contained significantly (p<0.05) higher nutrients than RTDM except the Nitrogen free extract (soluble carbohydrate). Nevertheless, the phyto-toxins in FTDM were significantly lower (p<0.05) in concentration compared with RTDM especially the polyphenols but no significant (p>0.05) difference was observed in Phytates and oxalate values respectively. It could be deduced from this study that tigernut discards contained valuable nutrients comparable with some orthodox energy feedstuffs such as maize and millet, hence, should not be allowed to rot on the field thereby constituting environmental filths and disposal problems.