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**Conventional versus Green ZnO Nanoparticle Pre-treatment Effects on Mucuna pruriens utilis Seed Potential Nutritional Value for Beef Cattle**

Gamedze, N.P.¹, Mthiyane, D.M. N.^1,2*, Mnisi, C.M.^1,2, Mavengahama, S.^2,3, and Onwudiwe, D.C.^4,5

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, P Bag x 2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.
²Food Security and Safety Focus area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa.
³Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, P Bag x 2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.
⁴Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, P Bag x 2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.
⁵Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, P Bag x 2046, Mmabatho, South Africa.

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2024 27(2): 20-38

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The utility of Mucuna pruriens utilis seed meal (MSM) in beef cattle nutrition is limited by high fibre content and antinutritional factors. Hence, this study investigated conventional (C- Nano-ZnO) and green (G-Nano-ZnO) ZnO nanoparticle pre-treatment effects (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg) on the legume�s nutritional composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation. Both nanoparticle types differentially increased DM, OM, and EE (P < 0.001) and tended to increase ash (P = 0.055) whilst they decreased NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose (P < 0.001), and hemicellulose (P < 0.01) contents of MSM, with 20 mg/kg G-Nano-ZnO inducing greater effects. Also, they increased MSM�s Ca (P < 0.001), P (P < 0.001), Mg (P < 0.001), S (P < 0.001), Fe (P < 0.001), and K (P < 0.001), with 20 mg/kg C-Nano-ZnO generally inducing greater effects. However, both nanoparticle types generally induced no effects on MSM�s CP, Cr, Mn, Rb, gas production rate, in vitro ruminal gas production kinetics, and cumulative gas production (P > 0.05), except for increased 12 h post-incubation gas production rate induced by 20 mg/kg G-Nano-ZnO (P < 0.001) and decreased immediately degradable DM fraction a (P < 0 .001) and 12 h post-incubation cumulative gas production (P < 0.001) induced by, respectively, 20 mg/kg G-Nano-ZnO and 15 mg/kg C-Nano-ZnO. Interestingly, both nanoparticle types increased in vitro ruminal OM degradability and partitioning factors (P < 0.001), with 20 mg/kg G-Nano-ZnO inducing greater effects. In conclusion, pre-treatment with 20 mg/kg G-Nano-ZnO mostly enhanced potential nutritional value of MSM.