COMPARATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOMEM INDIGENOUS FODDERS USED IN FEEDING RABBITS

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COMPARATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOMEM INDIGENOUS FODDERS USED IN FEEDING RABBITS  (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

The growing human population has put a challenging responsibility on stakeholders in the food production sector. This has necessitated research into tools for producing food to feed the ever increasing world population. In Nigeria human population was put at 160 million at the last count, and this is exerting products using sustainable and practical means. Ruminant animals grazing usually select for ages, taking enough to fur rush their bodies with required nutrients.

While the tropical nature of Nigeria’s environment makes some forages to grow fast, mature and signify early leading to loss nutritive value, some are perennial in nature and are found through out the year e.g. Boerhaavia diffusa. This perennial nature is a good characteristic that can be harnessed for all season feeding of animals. Boerhaavia diffusa (pig weed or hog weed) is a perennial herb with stout root stock, many procumbent branches and simple opposite leaves. Reports indicated that Boerhaavia diffusa is put to multiple uses including feeding of animals and traditional medicine. According to Awasthi and Verma (2007) no toxic effects have been observed with its consumption by animals or humans in natural herbal medicine. Its roots are used in treatments of dyspepsia, jaundice, enlargement of spleen, abnormal pain, liver disorders and as antistress, the roots have antihepatotoxic properties. According to Ayodele (2008), pigs and rabbits have been observed to preferentially selected the plant in the pastru field during grazing. This might be attributed to its palatability since the natural instinct of an animal is to go for more palatable feed. This explains why the plant is called pig weed because pigs have been observed to enjoy it for centuries all over the world.

The southern guinea savannah of Nigeria cost thousands of ruminant herds migrating from the drier region of the country during the dry season (November to April). Thus forage species in this ecological zone need to identified and characterized. The aim of this study is to assess the value of Boerhaavia diffusa as a feedstuff by characterizing it in terms of proximate and mineral composition.

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COMPARATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOMEM INDIGENOUS FODDERS USED IN FEEDING RABBITS  (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)

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