‘Lafun” was enriched with soy protein supplements (curd or residue) during the mashing before drying at 10%. The amino acid result indicated that enrichment improved the amino acids contents as well as the protein quality of the products. While enrichment generally improved the mineral element composition, enrichment with the residue significantly improved the mineral composition when compared to enrichment curd. That the products were hygienically produced was confirmed by the non-detection of heavy metals which may suggest it safety for human consumption. Condensed tannins, phytate, oxalate, hydrogen cyanide and trypsin inhibitor were tested as possible anti-nutritional factors in the product and the values obtained were within safe level and correlated with those reported in previous or similar studies. It was concluded that enrichment with soy curd/residue is a safe and viable means to improve the nutritional benefits derivable from “Lafun” especially for those that ‘Lafun” is a major staple.

This study was carried out to determine the effect of adding ginger powder at different levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0%) to the ration on performance, blood parameters and meat quality characteristics of male Japanese quails. 48 male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica) at 28 days of age were used in the study. The experiment was carried out for 21 days in 4 replications in a quail cage with 12 male Japanese quails in each of 4 treatment groups consisting of rations containing different levels of ginger powder. At the end of the experiment, the effects of adding different levels of ginger powder to male quail diets on the performance and serum parameters studied were statistically insignificant. Pre breast L*, a* and b*, thigh meat colours a* and b* values were not significantly affected by the treatments. However, pre-thigh L* values were significantly lower in the group fed with 2.0% ginger powder compared to the group fed with 0.5% and 1.0% ginger powder. Post breast b* value of the group containing 2.0% ginger powder in the diet was significantly higher than that of the group containing 0.5% and 1.0% ginger powder. It was observed the treatment group containing 2.0% ginger powder significantly decreased the pH value and TBA (thiobarbituric acid number) values at the breast meats when compared to the control group and the treatment group containing 0.5% ginger powder. According to the result of the study, it was observed that the addition of ginger powder to male quail rations did not affect performance and serum parameters, but the use of ginger powder at the level of 2.0% in the diet improved some meat quality characteristics.

In this research, fresh green peppers were dried in a kitchen microwave oven at 600W, 700W and 800W. The drying curves of the study were compared with 5 different thin layer drying models in the literature. The changes in the moisture values of the samples against time were expressed graphically. R2, χ2 and RMSE values were used to determine the most suitable model for dried green peppers. Color values of fresh and dried peppers were determined. It was found that the L* and b* values of the dried peppers were lower, and the a* value was higher than the fresh green peppers. In addition, the rehydration rate of dried peppers was calculated. It was determined that the rehydration ability of the peppers decreased as the applied microwave power increased. For this reason, it was found that the peppers with the highest rehydration rate were those dried with 600W. Also, it was found that the most suitable model for all microwave powers among the five drying models was the Logarithmic drying model. It was calculated that the R2 values of the drying models ranged between 0.830-0.999, χ2 values between 0.0001- 0.4684 and RMSE values between 0.0014-0.6121. It was determined that the highest R2 (0.997-0.999), the lowest χ2 (0.0001-0.0002) values, and the lowest RMSE (0.0014-0.0035) values for all microwave powers belong to the Logarithmic drying model.