EFFECT OF DURATION OF COOKING MUCUNA UTILIS SEED ON PROXIMATE ANALYSIS, LEVELS OF ANTINUTRITIONAL FACTORS AND PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The effect of cooking regime on the proximate composition, gross energy and anti-nutitional factors (trypsin inhibitor, phytic acid, hydrogen cyanide, tannin, oxalates and saponins) of Mucuna utilis seed was investigated. Two experiments were conducted with 120 seven-day old broilers of equal average initial weight to evaluate the effect of duration of cooking mucuna seed at 100^oC for 20, 40 and 60 minutes on performance. Results showed that duration of cooking did not have any significant (P >  0.05) effects on the dry matter, crude fibre and gross energy. However, the crude protein, either extract and nitrogen free extract significantly (P < 0.05) decreased. The anti-nutrients; tannins, trypsin inhibitory activity, hydrogen cyanide, total oxalates significantly (P < 0.05) reduced with increase in duration of cooking. Feed intake, weight gain feed conversion efficiency, protein intake and utilization were significantly (P < 0.05) improved with increase in cooking time. It was concluded that raw Mucuna utilis seeds contain high levels of anti-nutritional factors and may be unsuitable as feed ingredient but cooking reduced the anti-nutritive substances in the raw seeds.