Abstract
Among the generated crop residues and by-products in tropical agriculture, those of cucurbits represent great opportunities for animal nutrition. Nutritive profile of harvest by-products (dried leaves, fermented fruits, non fermented fruits and seeds shells) of two oleaginous cucurbits (Citrullus lanatus and Lagenaria siceraria) were investigated in order to explore their potential use as feedstuffs. The moisture, ash, and crude fibres contents were 4.81 to 12.87, 9.93 to 18.29, and 2.18 to 16.35%, respectively. Shells of L. siceraria seeds yielded the highest carbohydrate content (84.80 ± 2.78 %) while the highest calorific value (380.92 ± 11.40 kcal/100 g) was obtained in C. lanatus bebu. The contents of threonine (Thr), lysine (Lys) and methionine (Met) in dried leaves of C. lanatus bebu were 4.16, 6.86 and 6.89 g/100 g proteins, respectively. The content of methionine (Met) was 5.81 g/100 g proteins in fermented fruits of C. lanatus (wlêwlê). The harvest by-products analyzed in this study contained remarkably high amounts of potassium (671.78 – 4738.79 mg/100 g) and calcium (342.08 – 2963.95 mg/100 g) with highest value (4738.79 ± 230.10; 2963.95 ± 135.74 mg/100 g) for non-fermented fruits of L. siceraria and dried leaves of C. lanatus wlêwlê, respectively. The analyzed plants parts were also notable sources of magnesium, ranging from 221.45 ± 1.96 mg/100 g (non-fermented fruits of L. siceraria) to 872.10 ± 48.49 mg/100 g (dried leaves of C. lanatus wlêwlê). All these results suggest that the studied by-products could be used as valuable feedstuffs. Key words: Harvest by-products, nutritive value, cucurbits, feedstuffs.  
Highlights
Shortages of feed resources often impose major constraints on the development of animal production in tropical zones (Aregheore, 2000)
There was a significant variation in the fibres content of the plant parts examined, ranging from 2.18 ± 0.45%
The fat content of the remaining plant parts was in the range 1.23 - 5%
Summary
Shortages of feed resources often impose major constraints on the development of animal production in tropical zones (Aregheore, 2000). Considerable quantities of by-products and crop residues generated every year and tending to accumulate can be utilized as feedstuffs (Ensminger et al, 1990). Feedstuff is a product that has value as an animal feed and is obtained during the harvesting or processing of a commodity in which human food or fibre is derived (Fadel, 1999). Among the generated crop residues and by-products in tropical agriculture, those of cucurbits have a great economical importance (Dupriez and De Leener, 1987; Pitrat et al, 1999).
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