Evaluation of nitrogen utilization in rats fed mixed diets of bambara groundnuts, rice and yam

Forty male albino rats were used to compare the nutritive value of mixed protein diets based on dehulled bambara groundnuts (DBG); undehulled bambara groundnuts (UDGB); rice flour (RF) and yam flour (YF) in young rats (45g-60g). These mixtures were nitrogenously formulated to provide 1.6g N/100g diet for 35 days. Combination of DBG: RF (80:20) and UDBG: RF (60:40) led to increase in both food and nitrogen intakes and PER compared to other mixtures (P < 0.05). Dehulling improved protein quality as judged by digested N and retained N, NPU, total plasma protein (TP) Dehulling also influenced weight gain and liver moisture. Replacement of an equal amount of RF with YF in the UDBG diet reduced intake, digested and retained N, BV, plasma protein, albumin, weight gain, PER, liver N, and moisture. The results of this study indicate that: Dehulling improves protein utilization, RF is superior to YF as substitute to BG regardless of N ratio, At lower ratio of 60:40 there appears to be a better EAA pattern as shown by increase in weight gain, PER. Keywords: Nitrogen utilization, Rats, Mixed diets, Bambara Groundnuts, Rice, Yam Agro-Science Vol. 4 (1) 2005: pp. 56-5