CONCENTRATION OF NUTRIENTS PRESENT IN FRESH AND ROASTED BUSH MEAT (GRASS CUTTER) (THRYONOMYS SWIDERIANUS)

Bush meat (Grass cutter) is one of the best natural meats with lots of nutritional advantages. The increase in consumption of bush meat serves as alternative which bridges the gap of the inadequacy of animal protein and other nutrition. The grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) meat samples used in this research were collected from Emure Owo market, in Owo local government of Ondo state, Nigeria. The hairy skin of the fresh lifeless grass cutter was removed using hot water. The grass cutter was dissected and the intestines were removed, washed after which the part to be used for analysis (laps) were separated and that of roasted, pounded with the aid of mortar and pestle prior to further analysis. The study examined the protein, ash, fat, vitamins, simple carbohydrates and heavy metal composition of roasted and fresh grass cutter meat samples.

Keywords: Grass cutter, Bush meat, mineral elements,  Vitamin, protein, proximate composition