The Proximate Composition, Heavy Metals and Microbial Load of Cow, Goat and Sheep Offals Sold in University of Maiduguri
Charles Bristone*, Hauwa Sa'ad Abubakar, Mamudu H. Badau
Citation : Charles Bristone*, Hauwa Sa'ad Abubakar, Mamudu H. Badau , The Proximate Composition, Heavy Metals and Microbial Load of Cow, Goat and Sheep Offals Sold in University of Maiduguri International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2018, 4(11) : 10-17.
This study was designed to determine the proximate composition, total plate count and heavy metal composition of offal (kidney, liver and intestine) from cow, goat and sheep sold within University of Maiduguri Campus. The result of proximate analysis of offal showed that moisture ranged from 15.96 to 38.95%, ash ranged from 0.81 to 1.76%, protein ranged from 10.43 to 20.38% and fat ranged from 38.81 to 65.82%. Also total plate count ranged from 1.7 x 101 to 10.3 x 101 CFU/g. Lead ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 mg/kg, cadmium ranged from 0.01 to 0.3 mg/kg, chromium ranged from 0.10 to 1.10 mg/kg and copper ranged from 0.18 to 1.18 mg/kg. Lead was not detected in other samples. The result of the heavy metals and total plate counts did not exceed the recommended levels except lead content of cow's kidney. This study indicated that offal (kidney, liver, intestine) of goat and sheep, as well as offal (liver, intestine) of cow sold within university of Maiduguri have significant nutritional value and also pose no health risk to its consumers. Follow up studies are recommended to determine the lead content of kidney of cows in order to safeguard consumers from possible exposure to health hazards. Therefore, it is advisable when cooking offal; one should cut the tissue into smaller sizes, and then boiled and washed thoroughly in order to reduce the concentration level of these heavy metals.