PROXIMATE STUDY, MINERAL AND ANTI-NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAVES HARVESTED FROM LAFIA, NIGERIA: POTENTIAL BENEFITS IN POULTRY NUTRITION AND HEALTH

The leaves of Moringa oleifera were harvested from Lafia in Nasarawa State of Nigeria during the rainy season in June 2011 for proximate, mineral and phytochemical analysis. The results of proximate analysis revealed the presence of high crude protein (17.01% ±0.1) and carbohydrate (63.11% ±0.09). The leaves also contained appreciable amounts of crude fibre (7.09% ±0.11), ash (7.93% ± 0.12), crude fat (2.11% ±0.11) and fatty acid (1.69% ±0.09). The total ash content showed it contained minerals, Ca (1.91% ±0.08), K (0.97% ±0.01), Na (192.95±4.4), Fe (107.48±8.2), Mn (81.65±2.31), Zn (60.06±0.3) and P (30.15±0.5) parts per million (ppm). Magnesium (0.38% ±0.01) and copper (6.10±0.19) were the least. The results of phytochemical analysis and anti-nutrients showed presence of tannins (21.19% ±0.25), phytates (2.57% ±0.13), trypsin inhibitors (3.0% ±0.04), saponins (1.60% ±0.05), oxalates (0.45% ±0.01) and cyanide content ((0.1% ±0.01). The presence of these essential nutrients and minerals implies Moringa oleifera leaves from Lafia, Nasarawa State could be utilized as a source of feed supplement to improve growth performance and health status of poultry. The benefits of essential nutrients and minerals in maintaining good health were also highlighted in this study.