Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritive quality of β-mannanase treated palm kernel meal (PKM). Beta-mannanase production was conducted using locust bean gum (LBG) as the sole carbon source; moisten with mineral salt solution, and enzyme activity determined by dinitrosalicylic acid. Crude β-mannanase was concentrated by ammonium sulphate. The chemical composition of enzyme treated PKM was determined according to standard chemical methods. The mineral composition of the enzyme treated PKM was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer method. The result obtained shows an increase in crude protein from 16.02±0.40 in non-enzyme treated PKM (NTPKM) to 23.26±0.13 in enzyme treated PKM (ETPKM). There were significant reductions (P>0.05) in ash and crude fibre contents in the ETPKM as compared to the control. The ETPKM showed a markedly reduction in crude fibre by 64.02%. The lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses content decreased in ETPKM by 17.32, 76.85 and 11.74%, respectively. The phytate, tannin and cyanide contents of ETPKM had a reduction of 29.26, 6.99 and 58.44%, respectively. The mineral analysis of ETPKM showed that calcium, copper and potassium reduced in PKM after enzyme treatment. The percentage reduction of calcium, copper and potassium in ETPKM were 33.65, 81.28 and 29.12%, respectively. However, there was significant increase in zinc and phosphorus contents of ETPKM in comparison with the control. The treatment of PKM with β-mannanase resulted in decrease of complex fibre fractions in the PKM to increase its crude protein and certain minerals (zinc and phosphorus) contents. Key words: Nutritive quality, palm kernel meal, β-mannanase, chemical composition, mineral composition.
Highlights
The utilization of agro-industrial wastes as feedstuff is one of the strategies involved in the reduction of cost of livestock production
Agro-industrial wastes can be of tremendous use in the livestock industry for feeding animals; they include brewers dried grain, palm kernel cake, maize offal, wheat offal, rice bran and cassava peels just to mention few
Beta-mannanase was produced by P. italicum using Locust bean gum (LBG) as a carbon source
Summary
The utilization of agro-industrial wastes as feedstuff is one of the strategies involved in the reduction of cost of livestock production. Agro-industrial by-products in Nigeria vary from primary processing of farm produce wastes to wastes from agro allied industries. Some of these wastes are left unutilized, often causing environmental pollution and hazard. Those that are utilized do not have their full potentials harnessed. Agro-industrial wastes can be of tremendous use in the livestock industry for feeding animals; they include brewers dried grain, palm kernel cake, maize offal, wheat offal, rice bran and cassava peels just to mention few.
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