Plants used for small ruminant nutrition in the Eastern Guinea Savanna region of Nigeria

Jane M Chah and Edwin M Igbokwe

Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
jmchah@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract

A survey of household heads engage in small ruminant rearing was conducted in Benue North and Nsukka Agricultural Zones, of Benue state and Enugu state, respectively, to document local knowledge of plants used for small ruminant nutrition.

About 74.0% of the farmers owned 6-10 animals most of which were confined in wooden/thatch pens. Mostly male heads and male members of each household were responsible for harvesting browse for ruminant feeding. A total of 52 plant species were identified, with only four being legume species. It was also shown that there were more species available in the Nsukka zone than in Benue North, a fact attributable to climatic effect and hence variations in vegetation. It is recommended that male members should be targeted for livestock extension and the importance of legume grass mixture should be emphasized.  

Keywords: Household, Small ruminants, Nutrition, Nigeria

Introduction

Small ruminants (sheep and goats) are an important livestock component in all ecological zones (arid, semi-arid, sub humid, highland) and all types of agricultural systems (smallholder mixed farming, agro-pastoral, pastoral, urban, commercial ranching) in tropical Africa (FAO 1991).  In Nigeria, they are embedded in the social and ceremonial life to an extent unequaled by other animal species (FAO 1991).  The ownership of these small ruminants is regarded as an investment. These animals constitute a major source of animal protein in Nigeria, goat meat being estimated to account for about 20% of all meat consumed in the country (Brimkmann and Adu 1991). Small ruminants play an import role in the welfare of smallholder arable farmers in Nigeria through income generated when the animals are sold (Devendra and  Chantalalakhana 2002).  Cash realized from such sales is used for purchasing farm inputs and household items (Ayele and Peacock 2003) and providing money for school fees and taxes (Nduaka and  Ihemelandu 1973).   

In the Eastern Guinea savanna region of Nigeria like in many parts of the country, small ruminant production and productivity is impeded by various constraints, which include nutrition (Ademosun 1992). This constraint can adequately be alleviated by modern or western style technologies such as feeding animals with formulated rations. Small ruminants in the area are largely in the hands of rural farmers. Since these farmers are mostly located in the rural areas, they scarcely are aware of innovations. In some cases, many of those who are aware cannot afford them, because of high costs. However, rural small ruminant farmers have developed indigenous methods for coping with the constraint. It is, therefore, worthwhile to provide information on plants and other indigenous or traditional methods used in the management of small ruminant nutrition among rural farm families and ascertain the roles played by members of the household with regards to the feeding. Specifically, the study was designed to (i) identify plants/other traditional methods used for small ruminant nutrition; (ii) ascertain their seasonal availability; and (iii) analyse gender and age roles within households in the collection and utilization of plants used for small ruminant nutrition. 

Methodology

Two contiguous states (Benue and Enugu) were purposively selected for the study. From each of the states, one agricultural zone (Nsukka, Enugu state and Benue North, Benue state) was randomly selected. From the selected agricultural zones, five extension blocks were selected at random and from each block, one extension circle was randomly selected. Using the ADP listing of households, 10 households were selected from each circle giving a total sample size of 100 households. Structured interview schedule was administered to the 100 household heads. In addition, household heads and other knowledgeable family members were selected and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) held by gender and age segregated groups, in order to validate the responses from the interview. Information on plants/and other traditional methods used for animal nutrition and seasonal availability were sought from the respondents. Representative samples of all useful plants were collected and identified by a plant taxonomist in the Department of Botany in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The study was predominantly descriptive. 

Results and discussion

Economic Characteristics

Stock/Herd size

The number of animals owned ranged from 1-35 as shown in Table 1. About 26% of the respondents owned 1-5 animals, 31.1% kept 6-10 animals, whereas about 43% owned more than 10 animals; this percentage was mainly from Benue state (where 80% of the respondents kept more than 10 animals as compared with only 6.7 % from Enugu state). The small herd sizes is attributable to poor management practices (North 1972). 

Generally, rural people keep small ruminants as a source of security and income during emergencies (Tangka 2000).  However, in some rural communities farmers keep large stock for prestige purposes (Aich and Waterhouse 1999). The implication is that livestock extensionists must avoid the tarmac bias characteristic of extension services in developing countries but must seek out all categories of farmers including the very poor that use livestock mainly as financial security.  

Plant species used for small ruminant nutrition

Entries in Table 2 show that respondents identified 52 plants used for small ruminant nutrition. Specifically, 46 plant species were identified in Enugu state as against six in Benue. Although the respondents from Benue state have larger herd size than those from Enugu state, the number of plant species used for small ruminant nutrition in Benue was less than those from Enugu. The observed difference probably derives from climatic and vegetation differences between the two locations. Enugu state is located in the Southeastern Guinea Savanna with a higher amount and longer duration of rainfall than Benue state. This probably accounts for the larger number of plant species in Enugu state.  Secondly, the large difference in number of plant species may be attributed to the willingness of farmers to experiment with their animals by feeding plant materials, which traditionally are not fed to animals. This assertion was confirmed during FGDs when participants reported that scarcity of herbage during the dry season compelled them to feed tree leaves such as pawpaw, Indian almond, African bush mango, Velvet tamarind, oil bean, fig tree, cashew and mango. It was also reported that the use of tree leaves was as a result of diminishing grassland occasioned by the disappearance of fallow and increasing human settlement. 

It is observed from Table 2 that only four legume species, Calopogonuim spp, Leucaena spp, Pentaclethra mycrophylla and Daniellia oliveri were fed to animals. Legumes have high nutritive values (Norton, 1998) as they have higher amounts of proteins, vitamins and minerals  (Lemus and Brown, 2008).  Legumes also add nitrogen to the soil for grasses to utilize (Lemus and Brown, 2008). Thus, the limited number of legume species in the study area has some adverse effects on ruminant nutrition with regards to the quantity of these nutritive plants available and soil fertility for other grasses to grow. This appears to be an area that requires some extension input in terms of grass/legume mixtures in feeding.  Among the plants listed, Elaeis guineensis, Andropogon tectorum, Aspilia African, Ficus spp and Acioa barteri were the predominant ones used in the Enugu state while Panicum maximum, Manihot esculenta, Sebenia aegyptiace and Mangifera indica were plants predominantly used in small ruminant feeding in the Benue area. This agrees with finding of Isah et al (1999), who reported that Mangifera indica contains an appreciable amount of protein (11.06%). Ficus leaves and petioles have higher levels of apparent digestibility ranging from 70.1% for crude fiber and ether extract to 81.8% for nitrogen free extract (Oshuor 2000). The fruits of Ficus spp are consumed by primates and birds (Oshuor 2000). Also in a study of browse plants conducted in Benue State, Daniellia oliveri (legume tree) was the most abundant browse followed by Vitex donaina, which is also consumed by wildlife such as antelope (Oshuor 2000). Apart from Elaeis guineensis, Glyphea brevis, Manihot esculenta and mangifera indica obtained from cultivated plants, most of the other plant species grow on their own either in the bush or uncultivated farm-lands. Manihot esculenta contains cyanogenic compounds. However, when the leaves are to be given to the animals especially in the wet season, they are kept in the sun to wilt before being fed to the animals. Sun drying probably reduces the cyanide content of the Cassava leaves. It is therefore, important that the effect of such treatment on the cyanide content be scientifically investigated and results passed on to the farmers by extension agents. Although Elaeis guineensis  is widely used in feeding small ruminants especially in Enugu state,  2.25% of the respondents indicated that, the leaves are of low nutritive value and so not good for feeding. Carew (1980) identified Ficus spp, Newbouldia leaves, Aspilia africana, Spondias mombin, Baphia nitida, Manihot spp and Chromolaena odorantum as the common browse plants for small ruminants in the humid forest and derived Savannah zones of Nigeria. This present study has also shown that these plants are used in small ruminant nutrition in the Eastern Guinea Savannah region of Nigeria 

Grasses and legumes such as Panicum maximum and Leucaena spp recorded in this study have been documented as the most common pasture grasses and legumes in tropical Africa (Ademosun et al 1984; Sumberg 1984). Leaves from oil palm, mango, avocado tree, cashew, orange and almond are used as forage for small ruminants in the study area. Thus, these trees in addition to producing products with direct cash value, also serve as sources of small ruminant feed. They are thus multipurpose plants. 

Seasonal availability of plants used for small ruminant nutrition

Results in Table 3 show that, of the commonly used plants identified, most of them are available all year round. However, Lophira lanceolata, Sorghum vulgare, Calapogonium mucunoides, Ipomoea batatas, Andropogon tectorum, Landolphia spp and Sporobolus pyramidalis are available mainly in the wet season. Due to the usefulness of some of these plants in ruminant nutrition (Folorunso and Olaniyan, 2009; Ahamefule et al., 2006; Ffoulkes et a., 1978), extension agents should see their importance and encourage farmers to cultivate them and also teach them ways of preserving them for use during the off (dry) season. 

Gender role in feeding of small ruminants

Entries in Table 4 show that male heads and male children (40.7%) constituted the major group responsible for feeding small ruminants in the study area. Adult males (15.5%) and adult females and their children (6.7%) also contributed. However, in Benue (22.0%) more adult males performed this task than Enugu (8.9%). Female children did not play any role in small ruminant nutrition. It  is reported that gender division of  labour in nomadic pastoral societies varies across regions (Grandin et al 1991).  In the Maasai of Kenya in East Africa, men are largely the decision makers for livestock production, and are in charge of general herd management. It is found that feeding of goats was among the major tasks performed by women in southern Nigeria (Ajala 1995). In the present study, the males were found to be the major household group responsible for feeding goats/sheep. In the study area, small ruminants were mainly fed on a cut-and-carry basis and the males usually went out to cut the forage. Since the males are those responsible for feeding small ruminants in the area, any extension programme aimed at improving small ruminant nutrition should mainly target males. 

Implication for policy and livestock extension

Male heads and male children are the major group responsible for feeding of small ruminants in the area. Therefore, any development programme on livestock and small ruminant in this case, should target male heads and male children in the community. However, it is stated that raising ruminants requires labour contribution from all family members (Tangka et al 2000). Women have been consciously or unconsciously excluded from the design and implementation of development projects, because of the perception that women have only a limited knowledge of animal care issues (Awa 1989; Horowitz and Jowkar 1992).  The exclusion of women undermines the long term effectiveness of many development projects and also projects implemented without due consideration for the knowledge and role of women can exacerbate existing power inequalities and /or create new perturbations in power structures (Horowitz and Jowkar 1992). These authors have issued pleas for more fieldwork on, and case studies of the indigenous knowledge of women. It implies, therefore, that micro-appraisals are essential in order to determine gender roles under various cultures.  

Although indigenous knowledge (in terms of nutritional plants) is gaining ground in most parts of the world, people still consider it inferior to western style-knowledge. To arrest this problem polices aimed at educating farmers on the value of indigenous knowledge should be formulated and extended to the curricula of universities and secondary schools. 

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the respondents in Benue North, Benue state and Nsukka, Enugu state for giving us valuable information as regards local nutrition of small ruminants in the area. We also wish to thank Mr. J. Ekekwe of the Department of Botany, University of Nigeria Nsukka for identifying the plants. 

References

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Received 3 March 2011; Accepted 8 July 2011; Published 3 August 2011

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