Growth, Nitrogen Utilisation and Liver Composition of Rats Fed Mixtures of Processed and Unprocessed Cereal and Legume Diets

A 35-day experimental study consisting of a 28-day growth and a 7-day nitrogen (N) balance studies was conducted to assess the effect of processing on protein utilization in rats. The growth, N utilization and liver composition of male albino rats (45-60g) fed mixtures of cooked, uncooked, dehulled and undehulled cereal and legume proteins were investigated. These diets provided 1.6g N/ 100g of diet daily. Casein served as the control protein. Standard assay methods were adapted to analyze the data. Casein diet produced increase in all parameters tested except for liver lipids, net protein utilization (NPU) and biological value (BV) as compared with those of the test diets (P< 0.05). Cooking and dehulling did not improve food and N intakes, digested and retained N, NPU, BV, liver weight, moisture, and lipids except those of the test group fed the CS: DB (60:40) diet. At lower N ratios (70:30, 60:40) regardless of processing methods, there were increased values in all parameters of the test groups. As judged by the results, cooking and dehulling did not make any appreciable difference in sorghum and cowpea utilization in rats.