CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME SELECTED PLANTS USED AS FEED FOR SHEEP AND GOATS AT ODORAGUSHIN OF EPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAGOS STATE.

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition of Pentaclethra macrophylla, Sida acuta, Moringa oleifera, Morinda lucida and Ficus exasperata. The resulting products were collected, fermented, sun-dried and kept in a polythene bag for further investigation. Samples were investigated for proximate composition and crude fibre fractions. Results obtained showed that, there were significant differences in proximate composition with crude protein (CP) ranging from 18.05 in Sida acuta to 28.02% in Moringa oleifera. The content of the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) differed significantly (P<0.05) with values ranging from 51.35 in Pentaclethra macrophylla to 61.48% in Ficus exasperata. Significant (P<0.05) highest value of 17.32% was obtained for cellulose in Pentaclethra macrophylla. The study concluded that, the selected plants evaluated had high crude protein contents which would make them good protein supplement to poor quality feeds especially during feed scarcity without adverse effect.