Assessment Of Biological Value Of Terminalia Catappa Seed Meal-based Diet In Rats

The effects of defatted Terminalia catappa seed meal on the growth performance and carcass of rats were investigated. Twelve weaning albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) with an average weight of 24.0 ± 3.4g were maintained on diets composed of defatted T. catappa seed meal (Tc meal) and soybean meal (control) for six weeks. The weights of the rats were monitored on weekly basis, at the same period of the day and before being served the (weighing) day’s feed. The organs and carcasses of the rats were weighed after they were sacrificed and disemboweled, and the chemical compositions of the carcasses were also determined. The body weights of the rats maintained on defatted Tc meal were significantly reduced to one-third (1/3) of the weights of the control animal (p<0.05). The organ to body weight ratio of the Tc meal rats were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the control. In the carcass of rats fed Tc meal diet, ether extract, crude protein and ash contents were significantly reduced (p<0.05) when compared with the control. However, the crude fibre and the nitrogen free extract (NFE) were significantly higher in the Tc meal rats than that of the control (p<0.05). It can be deduced that the defatted Terminalia catappa seed meal could cause depression in growth rate, enlargement of rat tissues with adverse effects on carcass of rats.