Market prices and proximate composition of four common sources of animal protein in south-western Nigeria

The proximate composition, market prices and production cost per unit kilogram of four common meat types were investigated in the south-western area of Nigeria. The meat types were beef, broiler, Claria lazera and Tilapia macrocephala and the parameters were crude protein (%),ether extract (%),ash(%),crude fibre (%) and nitrogen-free extract (%) and average market prices of the meat types. One hundred grammes of each of the meat sample were obtained from freshly slaughtered cow, broiler chicken and fishes. Each sample was subdivided into four replicates which were later subjected proximate analyses in a completely randomized design (CRD) while current market prices of each of the meat samples were investigated. Beef had the highest crude protein and fat content, while broiler meat and Clarias lazera had higher mineral content than others. However, none of the samples had crude fibre. Meanwhile, Tilapia macrocephala (N42.00 per 100g fresh weight) was the cheapest while broiler meat was the most expensive (N57.00 per 100g fresh weight). Beef had the highest level of crude protein than other meat types while Tilapia macrocephala was the cheapest meat type in south-western Nigeria as at the time of this study.