Nutrient and Anti-Nutritional Composition of Crop Residues and Kitchen Wastes Fed to Small Ruminants in Choba, Port Harcourt

DOI: 10.15580/GJAS.2017.2.032317044 The study was carried out to determine the nutrient composition, anti-nutritional factors and mineral content of crop residues and kitchen wastes fed to small ruminants in Choba and to ascertain the best crop residues and kitchen wastes suitable to these animals. The samples of crop residues and kitchen wastes commonly fed to small ruminants were collected from farms, home of farmers and restaurants around the study area. They were dried and analysed for moisture content, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, and ash and nitrogen free extract. The anti-nutritional factors (saponins, tannins and phytate) were checked and the mineral content (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium) were also analysed. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results gotten showed that the nutrient composition, anti-nutritional factors and mineral content were significantly different (P<0.05). These crop residues and kitchen wastes (maize cob, vegetable residues, ripe plantain peels, cassava leaves, cassava peels, yam peels, cocoyam peels and banana peels) showed low levels of anti-nutrients within tolerable levels (3% for saponins and 2% for tannins) for small ruminants. Cowpea pod (4.85%), pineapple wastes (5.02%) and banana peels (3.00%) had tannin levels higher than the recommended 2% for small ruminants and as such need further processing to reduce their tannin levels. All the crop residues and kitchen wastes had adequate levels of minerals especially calcium and phosphorus and their nutrient compositions fell within the requirements for small ruminants. Therefore, these crop residues and kitchen wastes should be used for small ruminant feeding. Submitted: 23/03/2017 Accepted: 28/03/2017 Published: 04/04/2017