Influence of ragi (Eleusine coracana) husk on the growth and body composition of albino rats.

For 6 weeks 20 weanling male Wistar rats were given diets with 9 or 18% casein without or with 8% ragi (Eleusine coracana) husk to replace maize starch which made up the rest of the diet. With 9% casein the inclusion of ragi husk in the diet increased weight gain significantly from 70.8 to 102.6 g. The inclusion of ragi husk in the diet with 18% casein did not increase gain significantly. Percentage nitrogen retained tended to be greater when ragi husk was present in the diet with 9% casein but the difference was not significant. Protein content of the carcass of rats given ragi husk was greater than that in control rats given either amount of casein.