SHEA BUTTER

There is current interest in the search and use of agro-waste in preference to conventional
ingredients in agriculture as animal feed hence the need to investigate the potentials of these
wastes and their effects on animals. This study was designed to investigate the biochemical
characteristics of rats fed on shea nuts (Butyrospermum parkii) meal. Defatted shea nut seed
(exfactory) and whole shea nut seed (raw) meals were fed as whole food to male albino rats for
twenty eight (28) days. Biochemical parameters in the blood serum, urine, faeces and tissues
were studied to assess the adequacy of the shea nut meals for food value. There were significant
decreases in body weight as well as organ weights of liver, spleen and heart for the rats on the
shea nut meals as compared to the control. Total protein, albumin, non protein nitrogen, urea, as
well as glycogen in the liver and serum fell significantly (p>0.05) with the two experimental
meals, with the effect showing more in the raw shea nut meal. Serum minerals, phospholipids in
liver and kidney tissues were not affected. However, transaminases (GOT and GPT) and alkaline
phosphatase were elevated in both serum and liver, indicating insufficient calorie and reduced
quality of food value (especially protein) in the meals. A high percentage nitrogen loss was
observed in rats on the shea nut meals compared to the control at a significant difference
(p<0.05). The excessive loss of hair observed would account for a negative nitrogen balance in
the experimental rats, thus explaining the weight loss. The observed biochemical indices depict a
poor response of the rats to both the exfactory and raw shea nut diets as food.
KEY WORDS: Waste; Meal; Tissues; Transaminases; and Livestock.