Optimization of weaning mix based on malted and extruded pearl millet and barley.

Weaning mix was developed using extrudates of plain and malted pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) flour. Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) with four independent variables PME (pearl millet extrudates), PMME (pearl millet malt extrudates), BE (barley extrudates), BME (barley malt extrudates) at five level and five dependent variables, i.e. lightness, peak viscosity (PV), water solubility index (WSI), water absorption index (WAI) and overall acceptability (OAA) scores, were used to conduct the experiments. Highly acceptable weaning mix was obtained by combining optimized ingredients with constant level of skim milk powder (SMP) 25%, WPC-70 5%, sugar 6% and refined vegetable oil 4 ml 100 g(-1) mix. The optimized level of ingredients was PME 20.77%, PMME 7.39%, BE 20.99%, BME 6.53% with 81.3% desirability. The nutrient content of optimized weaning mix was in accordance with the standards specified by PFA, 2004.