Preliminary investigation on nutritive potential of four selected browse fodders in southern Guinea savannah, NigeriaScarcity of forages for grazing stock during the dry season necessitates continuous screening and re-screening of novel or underutilized b

Abstract

Scarcity of forages for grazing stock during the dry season necessitates continuous screening and re-screening of novel or underutilized browse species with the aim of discovering those with potential nutritive value that can be exploited for feeding animals in the developing countries of the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritive potential of four selected browse fodders (Piliostigma thonningii, Detarium microcarpum, Stereospermum kunthianum and Isoberlinia doka) by considering some of their nutritional and anti-nutritional properties. Dry matter and organic matter contents were not different (P>0.05) among the browses. D. microcarpum had the highest (P<0.05) levels of crude protein and ether extract contents, whereas ash and oxalate contents were lowest (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum. Crude fibre was greater (P<0.05) in P. thonningii and I. doka than in D. microcarpum and S. kunthianum. Calcium level was higher (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum and I. doka compared to P. thonningii and D. microcarpum, which had similar contents. Phosphorus and potassium contents were greatest (P<0.05) in S. kunthianum. Magnesium concentration was greatest in D. microcarpum and S. kunthianum and lowest in P. thonningii (P<0.05). Concentrations of condensed tannins, saponins, phytate and oxalates were higher (P<0.05) in I. doka than in other browse fodders. The concentrations of 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 used as supplements to the inherently low nutritive tropical forages or roughages predominantly used for ruminant feeding in smallholder ruminant production systems.