Forage nutritional properties of Four Accessions of Andropogon gayanus-Andropogon tectorum in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Accessions of Andropogon gayanus-Andropogon tectorum collected from Southwestern Nigeria were evaluated for their forage nutritional properties and potentials as fodder using standard procedures. Field trips for plant collection covered the agro-ecological zones of the following states in Nigeria: Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo and the parts used were leaves and young stems. The proximate analysis revealed that moisture contents were moderate in all plant parts used (45.56%-71.46%) and the highest were recorded in the stem of A. gayanus. The percentage fat and nitrogen contents were low in all the accessions studied (0.20-0.38%) and (0.60-0.90%) respectively. The lowest value of crude fibre, ash and dry matter contents were recorded in the leaves and stems of A. gayanus. The lowest and the highest values of Lignin contents and carbohydrate contents were recorded in the leaves and stems of A. gayanus. A. gayanus had the lowest source of protein (3.75-3.78%). The concentrations of these mineral elements are within recommended range for animal feeds except for phosphorous. The study revealed the species (A. gayanus and A. tectorum) are good sources of proteins and carbohydrates, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc and are high enough to meet the requirements of animals; sheep and most especially cattle (for beef and dairy). . The presence of these substances in good quantities indicates the potentials of the examined Andropogon species as good fodders.