Protein deficiency affects more than 170 million preschool children and nursing mothers in developing countries creating a need for a strategy to improve the nutritional status of their diet through supplementation with plant proteins. The nutritional value of Treculia africana (African Breadfruit) has been extensively studied under laboratory conditions. Although the Breadfruit tree grows wildly in some West and Central African countries, and its seeds eaten in various forms by the populace, there has not been an attempt to evaluate its nutritive value as prepared at the home level. The goal of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the nutritive value of the seeds as indigenously prepared by the general populace in order to determine the suitability of its use as a good complementary diet. The raw seeds purchased in the Ikenne local government area (LGA) of Ogun State, Nigeria were subjected to cooking and toasting methods (using firewood) as practiced in the area. A proximate analysis was performed on the three samples (Raw, Cooked and Toasted) in order to evaluate the composition and some anti-nutritional factors of the Breadfruit seeds. Results showed that the cooked and toasted samples had better nutritive values as compared with the raw seeds; the mean % protein content of the raw, cooked and toasted samples were 16.32±0.09, 18.25 ±0.00 and 17.22±0.04, respectively. Ash content was 1.36±0.057, 1.86±0.042 and 1.83±0.007, respectively, fat was 10.98±0.071, 11.50±0.134 and 13.74±0.233, respectively and crude fiber was 1.25±0.007, 2.13±0.014 and 2.39±0.064, respectively. The tannin level was higher in cooked and toasted seeds than in the raw seeds but was not in toxic amounts (1.19gm, 3.50 and 2.32 in the raw, cooked and toasted seeds, respectively). Phytate levels were generally lower in the cooked and toasted seeds; at 2.85%, 1.99%, and 2.24% for raw, cooked and toasted seeds, respectively. This study showed that the two major modes of preparation of the African Breadfruit seeds retained high levels of nutrients with lower levels of anti-nutrients. The resulting meal/snack will be useful as a good complementary diet for the African child, especially in areas where it grows wildly as it will provide a more viable alternative to the currently known and consumed weaning diets among the rural population. Toasting the African Breadfruit seed will be particularly helpful for working mothers who require ready to eat food as the moisture content was lowered (and by extension the shelf life increased) by this method of processing.

The constant increment in the prices of conventional protein feed sources have prompted the search for alternative locally feed resources with minimal competition between man and livestock without any deleterious effect on health of the animal. A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of feeding four differently processed roselle seed meals as partial replacement for soybean meal in broiler chicken's diet. One hundred and fifty (150), one day -old (Yammfy, +AA) broiler chicks were randomly allotted to five (5) dietary treatments comprising three replicates and ten chicks per replicate. The experimental diets were formulated with differently processed Roselle Seed Meal [DPRSM] in the diets of broiler chicks at 15% inclusion levels irrespective of the processing methods. The treatments were designated as T1, T2 T3, T4 and T5 as control diet (no roselle seed meal), fermented roselle seed meal (FRSM), boiled roselle seed meal (BRSM), lye roselle seed meal (LRSM) and enzyme roselle seed meal i.e (enzyme + raw roselle seed) (ERSM) respectively. Data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance [ANOVA] at 5% level of probability. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for eight weeks of the experiment. Data were generated for final body weight, total feed intake, daily feed intake (DFI), total weight gain, daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio and carcass traits. Results of the analysis for growth performance revealed significant (P< 0.05) influence of differently processed roselle seed meal [DPRSM] on final weight gain, total weight gain, daily weight gain, total feed intake, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio for starter phase. Birds fed control diets and fermented roselle seed meal recorded the higher (P < 0.05) final weight gain, total weight gain and daily weight gain. Also, birds fed control diets recorded the highest total feed intake and daily feed intake which were statistically similar to birds fed fermented roselle seed meal while bird on other processed roselle seed meal recorded the least statistically similar values of TFI% and DFI respectively. Birds fed fermented roselle seed meal recorded the best FCR while birds on boiled roselle seed meal recorded the least value. The result at the finisher phase revealed significant (P< 0.05) effect of processed Roselle seed on DWG and FCR while other growth parameters were not affected (P>0.05) for the treatment imposed. Birds fed control diet and fermented Roselle seed meal had the highest DWG (31.48g and 30.13g). Closely followed were birds fed boiled and lye roselle seed meal (27.94g and 28.78g) while birds fed enzyme roselle seed meal recorded the least value(26.40g). The best FCR was obtained with birds fed control diet, fermented and lye Roselle seed meal. However, the carcass measurements were significantly (p< 0.05) influenced for all the parameters measured except for liver, kidney lungs and shanks. Birds on control diets, fermented and lye processed Roselle seed meal recorded the highest of all these parameters. It was concluded that fermented and lye roselle seed meal at 15% inclusion could be used to partially replace soybean meal in both starter and finisher broiler formulation as it compared favorably with soybean meal for better growth performance and without any detrimental effect on the experimental birds.         L'augmentation constante des prix des sources d'alimentation en protéines conventionnelles a suscité la recherche d'alternatives ressources alimentaires localement avec une concurrence minimale entre l'homme et le bétail sans effet délétère sur la santé de l'animal. Un essai d'alimentation de 56 jours a été effectué pour déterminer l'effet de l'alimentation de quatre repas de graines de roselle traitées différemment comme remplacement partiel du repas de soja dans le régime alimentaire du poulet de poulet. Cent cinquante (150), une journée de poulet-pous poussins de gril à cinq (5) traitements diététiques comprenant trois réplicats et dix poussins par réplication. Les régimes expérimentaux ont été formulés avec un repas de graines de roselle traité différemment [RGRTD] dans les régimes de poussins de poulets à gril à 15% de niveaux d'inclusion indépendamment des méthodes de traitement. Les traitements ont été désignés comme T1, T2 T3, T4 et T5 en tant que régime de contrôle (pas de repas de graines de Roselle), repas de graines de roselle fermentés (RGRF), repas de graines de roselle à la boue (RGRB), Repas de graines de Roselle (RGR) et graines de roselle enzymatique Repas, c'est-à-dire (enzyme + graines de roselle brut) (EGRB) respectivement. Les données obtenues ont été soumises à une analyse de la variance [ANOVA] à 5% de probabilité de probabilité. L'alimentation et l'eau ont été fournies publicitaires de Libitum pendant huit semaines de l'expérience. Les données ont été générées pour le poids final, l'apport alimentaire total, la consommation quotidienne d'alimentation (CQA), le gain de poids total, le gain de poids quotidien (GPQ), le ratio de conversion d'alimentation et les traits de carcasse. Les résultats de l'analyse des performances de la croissance ont révélé une influence significative (p <0,05) de la farine de graines de roselle traitées différemment [FGRTD] sur le gain de poids final, le gain de poids total, le gain de poids quotidien, l'apport alimentaire total, l'apport d'alimentation quotidienne et le rapport de conversion d'alimentation pour le démarreur phase. Doits de contrôle de la Fed des oiseaux et repas de semences de roselle fermentés enregistré le gain de poids supérieur (p <0,05), le gain de poids total et le gain de poids quotidien. En outre, les régimes de contrôle de la Fed des oiseaux ont enregistré l'admission totale totale d'alimentation et une prise d'alimentation quotidienne statistiquement similaire à celle des oiseaux nourris à la farine de graines de roselle fermentée tandis que l'oiseau sur un autre repas de graines de roselle transformé a enregistré respectivement les mêmes valeurs statistiquement similaires de TFI% et de DFI. Oiseaux Feed Fermenté RoselleSeed Repas enregistré le meilleur FCR tandis que les oiseaux sur la farine de graines de roselle bouillie ont enregistré la moindre valeur. Le résultat de la phase de finition a révélé un effet significatif (P <0,05) des graines de roselle transformées sur DWG et FCR, tandis que d'autres paramètres de croissance n'ont pas été affectés (p> 0,05) pour le traitement imposé. Un régime de contrôle de la commande des oiseaux et un repas de semences de roselle fermenté présentait le plus haut dwg (31,48 g et 30.13g). Suivi étroitement des oiseaux nourris à la farine de graines de la chaurée et de la lyeRoselle (27,94 g et 28,78 g) tandis que les oiseaux nourris à l'enzyme de graines de roselle ont enregistré la moindre valeur (26.40g). Le meilleur FCR a été obtenu avec un régime alimentaire de contrôle des oiseaux, fermenté et lyeRoselle Graine. Cependant, les mesures de la carcasse étaient significativement (p <0,05) influencées pour tous les paramètres mesurés à l'exception du foie, des poumons de reins et des tiges. Oiseaux sur les régimes de contrôle, fermenté et lonité Roselle Roselle Repas ont enregistré le plus haut de tous ces paramètres. Il a été conclu que le repas de graines de la Roselle fermenté et la lye à 15% d'inclusion pourrait être utilisé pour remplacer partiellement la farine de soja dans la formulation de chalameurs de démarrage et de finition, car elle comparée favorablement au farine de soja pour une meilleure performance de croissance et sans effet néfaste sur les oiseaux expérimentaux.