FOUR FORMULATED DIETS

The global livestock sector requires sustainable strategies to reduce reliance on costly, conventional protein sources like Soybean Meal (SBM), particularly in regions like Nigeria. This study investigated the nutritional implications of partially replacing SBM with locally abundant Guinea Grass Leafmeal (GGLM) in formulated diets, focusing specifically on the resulting mineral composition. Four experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, where SBM was replaced by GGLM at graded levels: T1 (0% GGLM, control), T2 (10% GGLM), T3 (20% GGLM), and T4 (30% GGLM). The diets were subjected to mineral analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed a significant influence (p<0.05) of GGLM inclusion on the mineral profile of the diets. Diets with higher GGLM levels (T4) recorded the highest concentrations of most essential macro- and micro-minerals, including Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), and Manganese (Mn). For instance, Ca increased from 3126.81 mg/kg in T1 to 5614.33 mg/kg in T4, and P increased from 415.10 mg/kg in T1 to 520.30 mg/kg in T4. Conversely, Chromium (Cr) showed an inverse relationship, and traces of Lead (Pb), though increasing slightly with GGLM inclusion (from 0.0533 mg/kg in T2 to 0.1500 mg/kg in T4), remained well within safe limits. The study concludes that Guinea Grass Leafmeal is a valuable mineral-enriching alternative to Soybean Meal. Its substitution can successfully enhance the mineral density of livestock diets, offering a cost-effective and su tainable feed resource without posing a heavy metal toxicity risk, thereby supporting resilient livestock production systems.