PAPER TITLE :EVALUATION OF NUTRIENT CONTENTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF ALTEMANTHERA BRASILIANA AND FREE CHOICE INTAKE BY WAD SHEEP

APPLIED TROPICAL AGRICULTURE | VOLUME 20 NUMBER 1 2015

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : Mako A.A.*, Akinwande V.O., Sodique F. R. and Oyekale, B. I
  • Abstract:

Ruminant production is constrained by inadequate supply of forage, during the dry season in Nigeria. Altemantera brasiliana (AB) is a perennial
herb that is available all seasons and can serve as fodder for livestock. This study evaluated the proximate compositions of Alternanathera brasiliana
harvested during four seasons (early rainy, late rainy, early dry and late dry seasons) of the year and the different forms of Altemantera brasiliana by
West African, Dwarf (WAD) sheep. Results showed that season had no effect on proximate composition of the species. The DM ranged from 20.10 -
20.49% in late rainy and late dry. The crude protein (CP) ranged from 20.35 to 25.42% in late dry to late rainy. The nutrient contents of different
forms of AB showed that wilting and sun-curing improved the dry matter; ranging from 21.56 to 58.78% in fresh and sun-cured respectively. All
minerals tested were similar except for manganese; ranging from 49.98 to 62.41ppm in late rain to late dry. The coefficient of preference revealed
that all forms of AB were acceptable, but the wilted AB was most preferred. Altemantera brasiliana has potential as forage for ruminants especially
in the dry season.