Buckwheat as a Supplement to All‐vegetable Protein Diets

Abstract

Successful all-vegetable rations for poultry feeding employing locally available feedstuffs have been previously developed for use in Central America (6,7). With this experience and other studies of the value of plants which grow well in the area, INCAP Mixture 8 ( V M 8) a vegetable mixture for human consumption has been developed from local foods and tested (1,.5). This formula has been shown to be effective for the treatment, and suitable for the prevention, of a form of severe protein malnutrition in children known as kwashiorkor which is common in Central America as in many other technically underdeveloped areas of the world.In order to improve the commercial practicability of this V M 8 formula for human feeding and also to give greater flexibility to the formulation of poultry rations from locally grown plants, the use of buckwheat (Fugopyrum escuknturn) as a source of carbohydrates and quality protein in such mixtures has been explored. Buckwheat is of particular interest since it is easily cultivated and yields well in the area and has been shown to have a relatively high nutritive value (9). MATERIAL AND METHODSBuckwheat (Fugopyrum escztlenfum) is reported to contain 1 l.Z$% of protein, 2.4% fat, 64.0% carbohydrates, 10.7% crude fiber, 1.7% ash and to have a lysine content of 0 .689% (2,3). The sample selected for these studies was grown in the Guatemala City area (elevation 5,000 feet). It was tested (a) as a replacement for the carbohydrate base of the V M 8 mixture and (b) as a source of lysine, which is one of the limiting amino acids of all-vegetable protein mixtures for chicks (8).Straight run 3-day old New Hampshire chicks were employed. No more than 12 chicks were housed in each all-wire cage. Heat was thermostatically controlled as required by the age of the bird. All experimental animals received water and feed ad libitum, and were weighed individually each week for a 35-day period. The rations fed, number, growth and the efficiencies of feed utilization of the chicks are presented in Table 1. RESULTSGround buckwheat was first tested as a substitute for corn and sorghum. In experiment 1, the buckwheat was fed to replace O.O%, 33.376, 66.6% and 100.0~0 of the ground corn of an all-vegetable protein diet containing sesame, cottonseed and corozo oil meals as the principal sources of proteins. The significant linear response in the growth of the chicks and increased efficiency of feed utilization to each increased percent of buckwheat except the first indicates that buckwheat was superior to corn in these rations.

Amino acid composition of buckwheat

“…Feeding experiments of Sure (1955) have shown that the proteins in buckwheat are the best known source of high biological value proteins in the plant kingdom, having 92.3 % of the value of nonfat milk solids and 81.4% of whole egg solids. The proteins of buckwheat were shown to have excellent supplementary value to the cereal grains (Sure, 1955;Wyld et al, 1958). Sokolov and Semikhov (1968) fractionated proteins of diploid and tetraploid forms of buckwheat; globulins were a main component of both.…”

The Amino Acid Composition of Wild Buckwheat and No. 1 Wheat Feed Screenings

“…Sure (1955) reported, on the basis of studies with albino rats, that buckwheat provided the best source of high biological value proteins in the plant kingdom (92.3% of the value of dried non-fat milk solids and 81.4% of dried whole egg). Wyld et al (1958) reported that 3-day old chicks fed for 35 days rations in which buckwheat replaced 0, 33.3, 66.6 and 100% of the corn of all-vegetable protein diets, showed a significant linear response in growth and feed efficiency to increases in buckwheat in the diet. It was concluded that the ration with buckwheat supplied enough lysine since the addition to it of 0.4% lysine had no additional effect on growth.…”

INCAP Studies of Vegetable Proteins for Human Consumption

“…Other raw materials of much potential are pseudocereal grains; among these grains, some attention was given to buckwheat (Fagopyrum trataricum) [42,43] and, more recently, grain amaranth [44][45][46]. Amaranth grain contains relatively high levels of protein with a good essential amino acid balance of lysine, methionine, and tryptophan [46].…”

“…It also contains 6% to 10% oil, a higher level than in cereal grain. Amaranth improves the protein quality of cereal grains, oilseed flours, and grain legumes [43]. Mixtures of amaranth flour with milk (Amaralac) and with soybean flour have been developed [46].…”

“…Nutritional studies conducted by Squibb et al [54,58] included the evaluation of local protein sources such as sesame oil meal and cottonseed meal. The studies also evaluated cereals such as corn and sorghum, as well as buckwheat and others, as energy sources [43]; dehydrated leaves as sources of biologically active carotenoids [36]; and other materials such as African palm meal as sources of protein [54,58]. The evaluation included the determination of limiting amino acids and the effects that these local ingredients had on the growth of the experimental animals, food conversion efficiency, antiphysiological effects, blood biochemistry, and body composition.…”