Nutritive value of leaf protein coagulum and cereals mixtures

Experiments were performed to compare the composition and nutritive value of mixtures containing leaf protein coagulum from lucerne with cereals (ground barley, ground wheat and wheat bran), with non-processed cereals alone or with the addition of separately-dried leaf protein. The chemical composition of mixtures and amino acid composition of their proteins were determined by conventional methods. The biological value and true digestibility of cereals and mixture proteins were determined on rats by the Thomas-Mitchell balance method.The biological values of mixture proteins were higher, but their digestibility was lower, than those of cereals alone. Generally, better results were obtained when cereals were mixed with separately-dried leaf protein and with barley rather than wheat.