Proximate, Amino Acid and Mineral Composition of Turkey-Hen Muscle and Skin

E. I. Adeyeye¹* and O. O Ayejuyo²

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Ado Ekiti, P. M.B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti (Nigeria) ²Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos, P. M. B., Lagos (Nigeria)

The muscle and skin were analysed for proximate, amino acid and mineral in matured female turkey (turkey-hen) (Meleagris gallopavo L.). The proximate values were high (g/100g dry weight): in organic matter, 99.16-99.22; protein, 53.6-73.5; energy, 1329.8–1374.2kJ/100g. Fatty acid and crude fat were better concentrated in the skin. The range of gross energy contribution by protein was 66.3-94.0% whereas it was 5.9-32.6% by fat and 1.1-1.2% by carbohydrate. Utilizable energy due to protein was 39.8-56.4% showing turkey-hen would prevent protein – energy malnutrition. The samples were good sources of Na, K, Fe and Mg, but all better in the muscle than the skin. The samples were very good sources of essential amino acids having the required levels for all ages from pre-school children (2-5years): in both muscle and skin, the amino acids in that category were: Ile, Met+Cys; in addition the muscle would satisfy such ages in Lys and Thr. Try was not determined. The lowest essential amino acid score was 0.85(Fle) in muscle and 0.60 (Thr) in the skin. The F test results showed that only the total non-essential amino acids/total essential amino acids were significantly different at p<0.05 in the muscle as well as in the skin.

Turkey-hen; proximate; amino acid; mineral; composition