Abstract
This study is a comparative evaluation of the nutrient profile of four selected browse plants often recommended for use as non-conventional feeding materials. Fresh leaves of Myrianthus arboreus, Gmelina arborea, Terminalia catappa andDacroydes edulis were collected from farmlands in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Proximate analysis was carried out on the dried leaves to determine the levels of crude protein, crude fiber, metabolisable energy, total ash and ether extract. The presence of the following mineral elements: calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc was determined. The presence of eight amino acids was also determined. Data collected were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance procedure. Significantly different means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range procedure. Significance was reported at 5% level of probability. Significant differences between the test materials were observed for all the parameters measured. Results obtained were within the ranges of reported values. Key words: Comparative evaluation, browse plants, non-conventional feeding materials.
Highlights
Increasing demand and the subsequent high cost of conventional livestock feeding materials has created the need for sustainable alternatives, natural feed sources indigenous to the tropical regions (Onwuka et al, 1989; Abubakar and Mohammed, 1992; Osagie, 1998)
This study shows the nutrient profile of four commonly studied browse plants with a view to appropriately recommending use of any of these non-conventional feeding materials in livestock feed
Several authors have carried out studies on the effect of inclusion of leaf meals on growth performance of different breeds of livestock (Herbert, 1998; Okagbare et al, 2004; Amata and Bratte, 2008; Amata et al, 2009; Amata, 2010)
Summary
Increasing demand and the subsequent high cost of conventional livestock feeding materials has created the need for sustainable alternatives, natural feed sources indigenous to the tropical regions (Onwuka et al, 1989; Abubakar and Mohammed, 1992; Osagie, 1998). This search for alternative feeding materials has over the past few decades rekindled research interest in the use of tropical browse plants as sources of nutrients for livestock feeds for ruminants and non-ruminants (D’Mello and Fraser, 1991; Aletor and Omodara, 1994). 1284.0bc 12.81bc 10.4a sulfur containing amino acids and mineral content
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