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Assessment of Elemental Composition in Selected Nigeria Broiler Feeds Using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)

Anas MS, Nuhu A and Yusuf JA

Assessment of Elemental Composition in Selected Nigeria Broiler Feeds Using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)

Four feeds common to the Nigerian broilers were analyzed for elemental composition. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was used to determine the concentrations of elemental composition of selected Nigeria broiler feed samples. Each sample (A, B, C, and D) represents certain brand of the feeds. The work was carried using the Nigeria Research Reactor–1(NIRR-1) at the Center for Energy Research and Training Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria by short and long irradiation protocols, using thermal flux of 5.0×1011 ncm-2s-1. Quality Control and Quality Assurance of the method was tested by analyzing Standard Reference Materials (NIST 1515 apple leaves,). The result shows that all the macronutrient elements in the samples are significantly presence and the micronutrient are virtually below detection limit (BDL). However, the results shows that the Fe concentration in sample B and Zn concentration in sample C and D were found to exceed the maximum acceptable limit with the exception of sample A. This makes the feeds contaminated with Fe and Zn not safe for broilers consumption since toxic elements are bio-accumulative and have the tendency to be transferred to human after consumption. The obtained result can be used as primary tools to further ensure broiler feed quality control and also can work as a dataset for the close monitoring of feed contamination by governments and environmentalist.