Harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants to small ruminants by youths in Nsukka urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

A R Ajayi,A O Ajinnaka

doi:10.4314/as.v3i2.1512

Abstract

The study was designed to assess harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants to small rumants by youths in Nsukka urban of Enugu State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 95 youths through the use of a structured interview schedule. Frequency distribution, percentage and mean statistic were used in the analysis of the data. The findings revealed that a greater proportion (72.63%) of the youths were at their very tender age (10 – 19 years) with a mean age of 12 years. Both male and female youths were involved in the harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants in the study area and they did not harvest for commercial purposes. All (100.0%) the respondents had some training for skill acquisition in identifying, selecting, harvesting and sorting of dispersed forage plants. Their major sources of training included their parents and peers. Harvesting was normally carried out once per day and preferably, in the morning hours. Apart from harvesting the dispersed forage plants for their parents, they also participated in feeding the small ruminants. Height of some dispersed forage plants, seasonal variation and snake bite / insect sting were the major problems militating against effective harvesting. It was suggested that the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka should come-up with small ruminants feeding improvement programme through which the youths could be better informed, especially, about identification, selection, harvesting, sorting and storage of dispersed forage plants. Keywords : Forage plants, Nsukka-Urban; Ruminants, Nigeria Agro-Science Vol. 3 (2) 2006: pp. 45-52

Highlights

In many parts of Africa and some other developing countries, the Youths are seen as individuals who are not yet married, still depend on their parents for social and economic survival
In southwestern Nigeria, sheep and goats are allowed during the day and throughout the seasons to roam about the villages; feeding on household wastes, plant residues and road-side herbage crops
The University of Nigeria Campus is surrounded by many communities where small ruminants are being reared and many youths are always found around and within the campus harvesting dispersed forage plants for their households’ animals .The University of Nigeria campus was sub-divided/clustered into Odimgate, Franco hostel, Farm operation, Odenigwe gate and Stadium/Umunkanka

Summary

Introduction

In many parts of Africa and some other developing countries, the Youths are seen as individuals who are not yet married, still depend on their parents for social and economic survival. Proper development of the youths invariably means a better future for the society They play major role in agriculture and community development through giving adequate support to their parents and / or being active members of various organizations such as the young farmers’ clubs, livestock clubs and horticultural clubs in their different schools. They act as a conduit for the transfer of new technologies to their parents and other farmers within their communities (Ajayi, 1997). Whereas, tethering of goats and sheep is common in the eastern part of Nigeria, especially, Nsukka agricultural zone of Enugu state They are tethered in the zone to avoid destruction of crops during the growing season since the farm-families practise compound farming system. Individuals keep 2-4 breeding goats and/or sheep in which investment is minimal (Okali and Upton, 1984; Ezeh et al.; 1986; Ajayi, 1995)

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