PLANT PHYTATES AND OXALATES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NUTRIENT UTILIZATION BY GOATS

Abstract

The leaves of 37 browse species usually fed to ruminants in Nigeria were analysed for their phytic acid, pleytin - P and oxalic. The study indicated average phytic acid of phytic acid, i.e the mixed Ca and Mg salts contents ranged from 65.05 to 350.64 mg/g-1 in 18.32 - 100 mg g- and 0.10 -3.5 mg 100 mg. The Herbs leaves had the highest concentration Phytic acid while shrubs had the highest oxalate content. The in vivo trial with dwarf goats showed that, when maintained on browse and  cassava peels, goats consumed 3.37 ±0.30 to 24.00 ±1.06 mg kg 1734 of phytic acid and 0.06 20.02 to 0.51 10.02 g d'W kg * 0.734 of  oxalic acid. The CP, Ca and P intakes and excretion were also monitored. These two toxicants were correlated with protein; DM intake, DM digestibility and body weight Browse phytates and oxalates did not quite impair the performance of ruminant animals (Oke, 1996). Calcium animals significantly. Following digestion, nutrients sent into the soil Include Ca, P, N, C, being the main site of Zn etc.