JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS 5,323-327 (1992) Proximate and Elemental Composition of the Double-Spurred Francolin (Francohm bicalcaratus) A.I.UKOHA,P.C.ONYENEKWE,A.U.EZEALOR,* ANDJ.A.ELEGBEDE' Departments of Biochemistry and *Biological Science,Ahmadu Bell0 University, Zaria-Nigeria Received November 25, I99 1, and in revised form September 24, 1992 Fifteen adult bush fowls (Francolinus bicalcaratus) and 10 local domestic fowls (Callus gallus domesticus) were studied for proximate composition. The cut-up parts of the bush fowls were higher in protein, fat, and ash contents while those of the domestic fowl were higher in moisture content. The mineral content differed significantly (P < 0.05) between sampleswhen compared cut-to-cut. The bush fowl had mineral (K, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu) content values higher than those of the domestic fowl. Differences were also observed in mineral content between parts within the same species. The higher nutrient content of the bush fowl supports the need for its domestication or CrOpping. 0 1992 Academic Press, Inc. INTRODUCTION Wildlife is a major source of animal protein in many African countrieswhereanimals are hunted and sold freely in the market (Cremoux, 1963).Thus, the consumption of wildlife birds by humans is common in many parts of Africa. However, with fast growing human populations, there has been a shortageof animal protein in the diets of most Africans. For example,while animal protein contributed 16.5% of the estimated (52 g) daily per capita total protein intake of the average Nigerian in 1968, by 1980 it dropped to 13.6%. For Western Europe and North America animal protein con- tributed between50-70% of total protein intake in 1980(Marquis, 1985).The shortage of animal protein in the diet has serious consequences asreflected by the high incidence of malnutrition. The demand for livestock in Nigeria and other developing countries increases at the rate of 4 and 5% per annum, respectively (Ajayi and Tewe, 1985). But the pro- duction of exotic poultry to alleviate the problem of animal protein insufficiency was found to be very expensive (Olayide, 1976). Moreover, the growth of the animal in- dustry, especially cattle, sheep, and goats, is hampered by tropical diseases such as trypanosomiasis and rinderpest. Francolins (a wild galliforme belonging to the genus pheasants and family pheas- anidae) are the most common pheasantsin Africa with certain speciesbeing more abundant in different parts of the continent (Serle et al., 1977; Mentis and Bigalke, 1980). The most abundant and widespread of the seven species known in Nigeria is the double-spurred francolins, Fruncolinus biculcurutus (Fairbairn, 1952;Button, 1967), commonly called the bush fowl. ’ To whom correspondence and reprint requestsshould be addressed. 323 0889-1575192 $5.00 Copyright 0 1992 by Academic F’ress, Inc. AI1 rights of reproduction in any form reserved.