POTENTIAL FEEDING VALUE OF FOUR SELECTED BROWSE FODDERS IN GUINEA SAVANNAH, NIGERIA

Résumé

Many wild browse species are undervalued mainly due to paucity of knowledge of their feeding. values. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive potentials of four selected browse fodders (Piliostigma thonningii, Detarium microcarpum, Stereo spermum kunthianum and Isober liniadoka) by considering some of their nutritional and anti-nutritional attributes. There were variations in the chemical and mineral compositions and the secondary metabolites of the browse fodders. Dry matter and organic matter contents were similar (P<0.05) among the browse plants studied. D. microcarpum had the highest (P<0.05) crude protein and ether extract. P. thonningi and I. doka were higher in crude fibre (P<0.05) relative to D. microcarpum and S. kunthianum. Ash and oxaloacetate contents were lowest (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum. Calcium contents were higher (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum and I. doka compared with P. thonningii and D. microcarpum. Phosphorus and potassium contents were greatest (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum. Magnesium concentration was highest in D. microcarpum and S. kunthiarum but lowest in P. thonningi (P<0.05). the concentrations of condensed tannins, saponins, phytate and oxalates were higher (P<0.05) in I. doka than in other browse fodders. All the phytochemicals were below the threshold levels at which they induce toxicity in ruminants. The results indicate that the studied browse species are promising fodders that can either be fed solely or as supplements to low nutritive roughages predominantly used for ruminant feeding in smallholder ruminant production systems.