ABSTRACT
This research aimed to assess the proximate and heavy metal composition of selected grower poultry feeds available in the Benin City metropolis. Standard methods were employed to determine the concentrations of zinc, iron, copper, lead, and nickel in the poultry feeds, alongside measuring moisture, ash, crude fiber, crude fat, crude protein, and carbohydrates. The proximate composition results revealed ranges of 13.75% to 14.61% for moisture, 3.32% to 3.51% for ash, 18.43% to 20.86% for fat, 9.7% to 10.36% for protein, 19.01% to 22.60% for fiber, and 29.41% to 34.29% for carbohydrates. Analysis of heavy metals indicated varying concentrations: lead ranged from non-detectable to 0.003µg/g, zinc from 0.077µg/g to 0.250µg/g, iron from 0.090µg/g to 0.407µg/g, copper from 0.002µg/g to 0.010µg/g, and nickel from non-detectable to 0.001µg/g. These results were compared with standard values set by regulatory bodies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The observed variations in heavy metal concentrations among the different feed samples may be attributed to differences in formulation.
