AUTHOR=Idamokoro Emrobowansan Monday , Hosu Yiseyon Sunday , Oyedeji Opeoluwa Oyehan , Miya Gugulethu Mathews , Kuria Simon Kamande , Oyedeji Adebola Omowunmi 

TITLE=A comparative analysis of the proximate and mineral composition of whole Citrus limon and Citrus clementina as a prospective alternative feed resource for livestock farming in South Africa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2022.1021175

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2022.1021175

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=<p>Citrus is a well-known vital fruit grown in South Africa. The presence of important bio-nutrients and metabolites within the different <italic>Citrus</italic> fruits indicates their significant nutritional qualities. This study is aimed to evaluate the proximate and mineral components of whole <italic>Citrus limon</italic> and <italic>Citrus clementina</italic> while considering them as prospective feed material for livestock farmers in South Africa. The nutritional evaluation was done using standard analytical procedures of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). The mineral constituents of the whole citrus samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). From the result, the nutritional analysis showed that the whole <italic>C. limon</italic> contains significantly higher moisture content (14.13 ± 0.57) and fiber content (24.48 ± 0.61) than <italic>C. clementina</italic> (11.41 ± 1.24 and 20.66 ± 1.07). Meanwhile, <italic>C. clementina</italic> had a significantly higher protein value (8.65 ± 0.04) compared to <italic>C. limon</italic> (5.53 ± 0.10). Furthermore, the whole <italic>C. clementina</italic> had significantly higher K, Na, P, Zn, and Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup> (1513.33 ± 16.99, 53.33 ± 4.71, 160.00 ± 0.00, 4.80 ± 0.00, and 1.09 ± 0.01) than the whole <italic>C. limon</italic> (1356.67 ± 20.55, 30.00 ± 0.00, 133.33±4.71, 1.67 ± 0.09, and 0.80 ± 0.02), respectively. While <italic>C. limon</italic> had significantly higher Ca, Mg, Mn, and Fe (593.33 ± 4.71, 160.00 ± 0.00, 1.00 ± 0.00, and 4.53 ± 0.25) compared to <italic>C. clementina</italic> (483.33 ± 4.71, 136.67 ± 4.71, 0.80 ± 1.11, and 3.43 ± 0.05). The study revealed variations in some nutritional and mineral components of whole <italic>C. limon</italic> and <italic>C. clementina</italic>; however, both citrus fruits have the potential to be explored for more significant livestock nutritional use in South Africa.</p>