Single-Cell Protein Enrichment Of Taro (Colocasia Esculenta)Tubers Using Taro Leaves As Nitrogen Source For The Nutrition Of The West African Dwarf Sheep

ABSTRACT

The study utilized a specie of coco-yam tubers and leaves called Colocasia esculenta also called taro. The study was conducted at college of Food Processing and Storage Technology laboratory, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State. Four levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% WtTwt) of taro leaves were incorporated with taro tubers on replicated treatment weight sample of 25kg each, placed in 12 fermentation vats (40 L-1 vat), with 5 percent (WtTwt) of rice starter innoculum (Aspergil/us sojae) added to the mixture and fermentation done for ten days at room temperature. The study was designed as a randomized complete block design. The inclusion levels of 10 and 15% taro leaves had significantly caused increase on the IVPE, mean differential of TyPE, IVSD, cost differential of IVEP, cost/g of IVEP and relative cost benefits of IVEP in this study. There was not much difference on the IVED, which was numerically better at 10 and 15% levels of taro leaves incorporation. There were no toxic effects when the IVEP was fed to WAD sheep in this study. This result therefore indicate that taro leaves should be incorporated up to 10 and 15% levels as nitrogen source for single cell protein (SCP) enrichment of taro tubers, for the nutrition of WAD sheep. Therefore, is recommendable under the Nigeria condition.