DETERMINATION OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF DONKEY MEAT SOLD AT NKWO NGBO EBONYI STATE

The aim of this work was to determine the nutritional value of donkey meat. The proximate analysis of minced carcass, was done and reported as moisture, dry matter, crude protein, total ash and organic matter. Moisture content was 68.35-74.72% and the dry matter content was 23-68-30.68%. Total ash content was also higher in donkey (5.10-8.19% as compared to 1.5% in beef, however, the organic matter content was slightly lower in donkeys (91.81-94.90%) compared to 98.5% reported in beef. The crude protein content 55.05-62.27 on dry matter basis. Mineral analysis revealed that donkey meat is rich in Fe, P, K, and Zn. For Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Mn, there was no signification difference between the cuts (P < 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed in K, N, Zn and Fe (P < 0.05).