Comparative Evaluation of the Amino Acid Profile of the Brain and Eyes of Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) Hen

Abstract

The amino acid composition of the brain and eyes of the matured female guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) was determined on a dry weight basis. The total essential amino acids ranged from 38.4-37.5g/100 g crude protein or from 47.5-52.2 % of the total amino acid. The amino acid score showed that lysine ranged from 0.81 - 0.89 (on whole hen's egg comparison), 0.92-1.00 (on provisional essential amino acid scoring pattern) and 0.869 - 0.95 (on suggested require- ment of the essential amino acid of a preschool child). The predicted protein efficiency ratio was 1.82 - 2.33, the essential amino acid index range was 1.11 - 1.45 and the calculated isoelectric point range was 4.64 - 4.32. The correlation coeffi- cient (rxy) was positive and significant at r0.05 for the total amino acids, amino acid scores (on all the comparisons made) and the isoelectric point in the two samples. Results have good comparison with whole hen's egg protein.