Effects of processing on amino acids composition of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam De Wit) leaf meal

The high cost of animal protein sources has made it necessary to evaluate the use alternative plant especially unconventional proteins. Leucaena leucocephala (white lead tree) is a leguminous plant, leaves which have potential being used as source. leaf been analysed crude value 15.2-34.3%. were collected from forage section College Agriculture and Animal Sciences (CAAS) Mando, Kaduna. first group was divided into three sun-dried for 24 hours, 48 hours 72 respectively. second further subgroups soaked in water then sun-dried. two groups ground powder. effects sun-drying soaking on amino acid composition L. investigated. analysis done by ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) using Technicon Sequential Multisample Amino Acid Analyser (TSM) Instruments Corporation, New York. essential acids detected arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine valine. Alanine, cysteine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, glutamic glycine, serine proline non-essential detected. Sun-drying led significant (P≤0.05) losses concentration all samples (Sundried - SD1, Sundried SD2, SD3, – SW1, SW2, SW3) when compared with raw (SU). Soaking caused higher reduction levels test meals at P≤0.05. scores revealed that lysine methionine limiting relative WHO/FAO/UNU standard preschool aged children. Therefore, processed should be supplemented other feed ingredients rich these production.
 Keywords: leaf, sun-drying, soaking, composition.