Nutritional assessment of defatted oil meals of melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) and fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis hook) by chick assay

Analytical data on fatty acid, amino acid and mineral content of defatted melon seed and fluted pumpkin seed are presented and discussed. Also discussed are experimental data on availability of amino acids and minerals in these meals. Defatted melon seed and fluted pumpkin seed have protein contents of 66.20% and 66.54%, respectively, with an excellent pattern of amino acids, containing higher levels of most essential amino acids (except lysine) than soya bean meal. Amino acid availability is high (melon seed 95.30%, pumpkin seed 93.12%) and similar to the level in soya bean meal (94.31%). Mineral availability is significantly lower in melon seed (53.63%) and soya bean meal (54.94%) than in pumpkin seed (58.84%). The potential for increased dietary utilisation of melon and fluted pumpkin meals and flours to meet the dietary needs of monogastric animals as well as human subjects is discussed.