World Applied Sciences Journal 32 (2): 201-206, 2014 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2014.32.02.84301 Corresponding Author: I.N. Okafor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, Tel: +2348063913417. 201 Proximate Analysis and Antinutrient Composition of Poultry Feed Containing Two Replacement Levels of Mucuna pruriens for Soy Bean Meal I.N. Okafor and F.C. Ezebuo 1 1,2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, 1 Anambra State University, P.M.B. 02, Uli, Nigeria Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, 2 University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Abstract: In order to find out the antinutrient and proximate composition of poultry feed formulated to contain 5 % and 10 % replacement levels of Mucuna pruriens for soybean meal. A cottage level processing method was used to process the legume before mealing. Two experimental diets containing 5 % and 10 % replacement levels of Mucuna pruriens bean meal (MBM) for full fat soy bean meal (SBM) were prepared. Antinutrient levels of the processed and unprocessed MBM as well as the two experimental diets were analyzed. Proximate analyses of the experimental diets were carried out and the results compared with those of two commercial feed samples. Results of the analysis showed that the experimental diets had lower moisture contents (9.4 %) compared with the commercial diets (9.7 %). The ash content of the formulated diets increased with increasing replacement level of MBM for SBM. The fiber contents of the two diets were 3.0 and 4.2 respectively while fat contents were 6.2 % and 7.0 %. These values though lower were comparable with the fiber and fat content found in Top commercial feed (4.3 % and 7.9 %). Vital feed had a much higher fiber content (9 %) and fat content (10 %). Metabolizable energy content of all four diets were within desirable range i.e 2600 kcal/kg and 2650 kcal/kg for the two experimental diets and 2800 kcal/kg and 2900 kcal/kg for Vital and Hybrid feeds respectively. Results of analysis revealed significant (p<0.05) reduction in levels of antinutrients after processing. The processing method effectively reduced antinutrient levels in Mucuna pruriens and can be adopted for processing Mucuna pruriens meant for incorporation into poultry feed rations. Key words: Mucuna pruriens Antinutrients Feed Protein Poultry Livestock INTRODUCTION readily consumed by man and therefore are less In developing nations like Nigeria, one of the major Mucuna pruriens also known as velvet bean, cowitch or problems of livestock farming is the inability to cowhage and by other common names, is a tropical adequately provide them with the right proportion of legume found in Africa, India and the Caribbean [2]. calories and protein. Protein sources used in livestock The plant is notorious for the extreme itchiness it farming include oilseed meals, legumes, distillery produces on contact, particularly with the young foliage by-products, fish meal, majority of these are imported and and the seed pods. It has value in agriculture and expensive, making poultry feed exorbitant. Alternative horticulture and has a range of medical properties. One of protein sources such as insects, maggots, earthworms, the problems of using legumes or any of their parts in termites [1], leaf meal and some underutilized legumes are formulating feed for monogastic animals is the presence being currently considered. One of the ways of bringing of antinutrients. For instance, It has been known for a down cost of poultry feed may be to replace some of the long time that raw soya beans or unheated soya bean expensive conventional protein sources presently used in meal will impair growth when feed to young rats and feed formulation with other protein sources which are not chicks. This effect is completely eliminated when the soya expensive. One of such sources is Mucuna pruriens.