ABSTRACT

The nutrients and anti-nutrients of four varieties of yam peel meals were investigated using the following parameters proximate composition, gross energy, mineral composition and some antinutrients (Saponin, Oxalate, Trypsin inhibitor and Tannin). The proximate and gross energy results reveals significant differences (P<O.05) for all the parameters considered. The crude protein ranged from T1 (Dioscorea dumentorum) (11.43%) to T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) (12.44%) and the gross energy ranged from T3 (Dioscorea cayenensis) (3.99kcal/kg) to T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) (3.95kcal/kg), making T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) and T3 (Dioscorea Cayenensis) the highest value for various treatment means· for crude protein and gross energy respectively. The macro-mineral values revealed that T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) had the highest value for all the parameters considered with Na (0.100%), K(O.89%), Ca (0.94%), P (0.27%) and Mg (0.24%).For micro-minerals, there were significant differences (P<0.05)for treatment means for all the parameters considered. In all the treatments, T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) had the highest values that were significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatment means with Mn(25.50mg/kg), Fe (75.40mg/kg), Zn (34.57mg/kg) and Cu(5.30mg/kg). The least value for micro-minerals occurred in T3 (Dioscorea rotundata). There were significant differences (P<0.05) for all the parameters considered for the anti-nutrients. In all the anti-nutrients, the highest values occurred in T4 (Dioscorea rotundata) while the least values occurred in Tl (Dioscorea dumentorum) except Trypsin inhibitors . Considering appreciable value of crude protein (11.43%), and gross energy (3.97Kcal/kg), least values for anti-nutrients and appreciable value for both macro and micro minerals. Tl (Dioscorea dumentorum peel meal) is recommended among other yam peel meal varieties as a potential alternative feedstuff especially for monogastric animals.