| Abstract: | The relative efficacy of protein blends (Blends I , 2:1:1; II , 1:2:1; III , 1:1:2, IV , 3:1:0; V , 1:3:0; VI , 3:0:1; VII , 1:0:3; VIII , 0:3:1 and IX , 0:1:3 of cashewnut, African locust bean and Beninseed flours) as compared to some commercially available baby foods ( “Farlene”, “Cerelac”, “Farex” and “Cow and Gate” cereal food) in meeting the protein needs of weanling albino rats have been studied. Growth promoting ability of the different blends ranged between 0.75 and 4.73 g/day while those for the commercial foods were 2.64–4.59 g/day. The values of 4.73 and 4.61 g/day for blends I and II were the best, being comparable to those of 4.59 g/day for “Cow and Gate” Cereal food but superior to those of 3.41 and 2.64 g/day for “Farlene” and “Cerelac”. The protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein retention (NPR), net protein utilisation (NPU) and biological value (BV) for blends I and II were respectively 3.6, 4.4, 72.4 and 75.9 and 3.11, 3.8, 69.1 and 72.4, compared with the values of 2.5, 3.3, 65.8 and 69.5; 4.80, 0.41, 85.8 and 90.1; 3.2, 4.0, 73.5 and 76.1 and 4.0, 4.8, 76.5 and 79.8 for “Farlene”, “Cerelac”, “Farex” and “Cow and Gate” cereal food respectively. The blends and commercial baby foods showed high true digestibility values between 94.9 and 98.1 %. The results are discussed in the light of balance and limitation of amino acids in the component oil seed meals. |
