EVALUATION OF PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF SOME PLANT SPECIES IN NORTH CENTRAL AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated the proximate composition potentials of thirteen (13) species of fodder crops used by livestock farmers in the North-Central Agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. Leaf samples from each of these fodder plants were harvested at the vegetative stage from mature plants around Jos, Lafia and Abuja vicinity: five (5) multi-purpose trees; (Leucaena leucocaphala, Gmelina arborea, Daniella olioverii, Mangifera indica and Acacia albida), four tropical browse crops; (Arachis hypogea, Manihot spp, Vigna spp. And Zea mays), and four grasses (Digitaria exillis, Sorghum bicolor, Panicum maximum, and Andropogon gay anus). Their proximate compositions were investigated. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in the proximate composition of selected browse plantfoliage. The DM values range from 91.60 to 88.60%for multipurpose trees, 92.40 to 90.40% for grasses and 91.57 to 83.97% for crop residues, while Zea mays foliage (83.97%) had least overall DM content. Vigna spp haulm (14.88%) and Gmelina arborea (15.46%) recorded the highest value for crude protein (CP) with the least value (6.27%) observed in Manihot spp foliage while the highest value of 13.03% (Acacia albida) was recorded for ether extract (EE) and the low set value was 5.30%(Digitaria exillis). Ash content range from 8.67% to 11.67% and the highest value of 10.10% for non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) was recorded in Mangifera indica. In conclusion, the high CP content observed in all the crop residues and multi-purpose trees indicates that the plants have the potential of being used as protein complement by ruminants nourished low quality grasses especially during dry season. It is therefore recommended that crop residues and multi-purpose trees foliage among the fodder crops should be used as feed supplements to feed ruminant in time of shortage of other feed resources like grasses because of its availability at this time.