Characterisation of Small Ruminant Production Systems in Semi-Arid Urban Areas of Northern Nigeria

A survey to characterise small ruminant system in semi-urban areas of Northern Nigeria with Katsina state as a case study was carried out with use of structured questionnaires. A total of 147 livestock farmers were randomly chosen for the study. The data obtained was analysed by descriptive statistics. The study revealed that majority (51%) of small ruminant keepers were within the age range of 18-30 years and most of them (71%) were males. The results also revealed that majority (71%) of the respondents had 1-10 years of experience in keeping sheep and goats, main source of foundation stock was through purchase (56%) and majority (60%) kept mixed herds of sheep and goats. The research also indicated that 44% of the farmers practise semi intensive system of management and that the respondents’ mode of feeding the animals include grazing, grazing and browsing; and cut and carry. Grazing and browsing contributed 42% while purchase of feed accounted for 77%. It was further revealed that the types of feeds consumed by the animals were forage legumes with concentrates (53.4%) and forage grass with concentrates (26.1%) which accounted for 79.5% of the total feed consumed. The farmers owned their stock mostly through purchase and were reared under semi-intensive system of management for meat and milk production. Most of the animals were fed through grazing and browsing along with supplementary feeds obtained through purchase. It was then concluded that ruminant production in the area of study has a lot of prospect in productivity and profitability

Survey of Rumen Impaction in Goat from Katsina Metropolis, Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to investigate rumen impaction in goats slaughtered at Katsina Metropolitan Abattoir by administering 147 questionnaires and making weekly visits to the abattoir for information retrieval for eleven weeks. In addition, live-weights of sampled animals, weight of rumen contents and empty rumen were determined. The data indicated that 60% of the animal keepers allow their animals to scavenge on refuse and majority (93%) of the respondents observed some effects of rumen infection, which include death of the animals (34%). The result revealed that the problem was more common among the age range of 16 and 18 months of age and that sex also has effect on the rate of impaction occurring more in females. Types and quantity of non-degradable materials in the affected animals were identified and polythene materials occurred more. Frequency of non-degradable materials was also observed in goats. The study recommends cleanup of the environment in that, it will substantially reduce foreign bodies syndrome in goats, proper feeding, addition of mineral constituents in the diet, hence there is need for state legislature to enforce proper disposal of non-degradable synthetic polythene materials to make the environment safe for ruminants

Socio-Economic Characteristics and Animal Feed Resources of Ruminant Farmers in Katsina State, Nigeria

: The survey was conducted to identify common ruminant feed resources in and around Dutsin-ma, Sheme, Faskari in Katsina state and investigate the socio-economic characteristics of ruminant farmers, farming system, feed types, sources, availability, price and major constraints in sourcing for non-conventional feed and feedstuff using a structured questionnaire system. The results of the survey showed that all respondents are male and married with crop farming as their primary occupation. 46.67% of the farmers had primary education with 6-10 years of livestock farming experience. The largest percentage (66.77%) of the farmers adopts intensive farming system. Feed resources were less expensive during harvest and expensive long after harvest i.e. during the dry season. High feed cost was the major constraints faced in sourcing feed. The feedstuffs were available from August to December and became relatively scarce in January. Respondents improve the nutritive value of the feedstuff by treating them with urea, sugarcane molasses and potassium. Farm residues, home remnants and agro allied waste were shown to have abetted the challenges of scarcity of ruminant feed especially during the dry season of the year. Some of the feedstuffs were not available at some periods of the month, a vivid picture of the time of their availability as shown in research could help the farmers to know when these feedstuffs are available and then buy at cheaper price and store for use at the time of scarcity. This will ultimately reduce cost of feeding and consequently, the cost of production.Keywords: resources, feed, ruminants, feedstuf

Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Uda Lambs Fed Graded Levels of Alkali -Treated Neem Kernel Cake

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding alkali- treated neem kernel cake (ATNKC) on haematological and biochemical parameters of Uda lambs. It was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto with 20 male Uda lambs. The experimental animals were allotted (n=5) to diets A, B, C, D and E with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% levels of inclusion of ATNKC, respectively. The experiment lasted for 84days. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment for analyses of haematological and biochemical parameters. Haematological and biochemical parameters of the experimental animals on control and test diets were normal. The mean values for per cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and red blood cell (RBC) in treatments E, D, C and B were not significantly (P>0.05) different from treatment A which served as the control. However, the white blood cell value in treatment A (11.67x109l) was similar to the values in treatments E (9.70 x109l), B (9.67 x109l ) and C(9.53 x109l) but significantly (P<0.05) different that of treatment D(8.90 x109). The values for neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil in the control treatment were not significantly (P>0.05) different from the test treatment except lymphocytes and monocytes. For biochemical parameters, the values to total protein, albumin, globulin, SGPT, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin in the control and test treatment did not show any significant (P>0.05) difference except in SGOT and unconjugated bilirubin. Urea nitrogen concentration, Creatinine and potassium values did not show any significant (P>0.05) difference between the control and test treatments. It was recommended in the study that alkali treated neem kernel cake can be safely included in feed of sheep up to 20% levels for lambs.Keywords: Uda lambs; Alkali- treated neem kernel cake; haematological and biochemical parametersNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19(2): 277-28

Haematological and Biochemical Indices of Growing Lambs Fed Fore-Stomach Digesta and Poultry Litter Waste

Haematological values and blood urea nitrogen levels of growing Uda lambs fed forestomach digesta (FSD) and poultry litter waste (PLW) were studied. The experimental animals were randomly allotted (n=4/treatments) to diets A (20% FSD), B (20% PLW), C (10% each of FSD and PLW), D (6.67% FSD and 13.33% PLW) and E (13.33% FSD and 6.67% PLW). The experiment lasted for 84 days. Blood samples were collected prior to and after the feeding trial for haematological and blood urea nitrogen determination. Initial packed cell volume and final red blood cell counts were not significantly different between treatments (P>0.05). Initial haemoglobin concentration (HB) was similar (P>0.05) to those on treatments A, C, D, and E while final HB concentration was similar (P>0.05) for those on treatments B, C, and E. Initial and final values of neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were not significantly different (P>0.05) for all treatments. There were no traces of eosinophils at the end of the feeding trial while monocyte counts were not significantly different (P>0.05) at the beginning and end of the feeding trial. Total protein showed no significant difference in all the treatments at initial and final collections of blood. Similar results were observed for albumin and globulin concentrations. Haematological values and blood urea nitrogen were within normal values; indicating that there was no toxicity associated with the feeding of FSD and PLW alone or in mixtures to growing lambs. It was concluded that the test diets were not toxic to animals based on the haematological indices and blood biochemical parameters which were within recommended values. Key Words: Lambs, Fore-Stomach Digesta, Poultry Litter Wast

Effect of Processing Techniques on the Degradability Characteristics of Acacia Acacia hockii) Leaf

This experiment was conducted at the Federal University Dutsin-ma Livestock Teaching and Research Farm in Dutsin-ma Local Government area of Katsina State, Nigeria. The study was meant to ascertain the effect of processing techniques on crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation characteristics of three differently processed Acacia hockii leaf meal (ensiled (T1), sun dried (T2) and fresh (T30) incubated in the rumen of five rams at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48hrs. Acacia hockii leaves were collected from Dutsin-ma town and used in the  experiment as as fresh leaves, sun-dried and ensiled. Five rams with average live weight of 20kg were fistulated and used as replicates in a  completely randomized design (CRD). They were fed with groundnut haulms, maize offal and cowpea husk in ad libitum at a ratio of 70%:30% respectively along with other management practices. The results of the rumen degradation characteristics showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the soluble fraction of crude protein, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre degradation among the treatments. There was also a significance (p<0.05) difference between the outflow rates of effective crude protein digestibility, effective acid detergent digestibility and effective neutral detergent digestibility. It was concluded from the study that ensiling and drying methods of processing reduces the ant-nutritional factors and the consequent better degradability of T1 and T2. However, the results of the study also revealed that ensiling is more effective than drying hence the better degradability recorded of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and the effective passage rate. Keyword: Digestibility, degradability, ensile, lea

Haematologic tolerance of a rumen fistulation protocol in Udaramsata Tertiary Institution Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Kaduna State, Nigeria

ABSTRACTThis experiment was conducted at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma Livestock Teaching and Research Farm in Dutsin-Ma Local Government area of Katsina State, Nigeria. The study was aimed at studying haematological tolerance level of Uda rams to a rumen fistulation protocol involving incision of skin and muscles separation along the direction of muscle fibers by divulsion. Blood samples were collected and evaluated at the intervals of 0, 24 and 48hours to assess blood line response to the protocol. A total of 3 rams were used and assigned T1, T2 and T3 in a completely randomized technique. A significant (P< 0.05) continuum of decreased packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration was observed from 0hrs through to 48hours connoting anaemia condition associated with the rumen fistulation protocol. However, significant (P < 0.01) tolerance levels were observed with the cell mediated immune response as evident in the increased lymphocyte counts (lymphocytosis) and an initial acute increase in neutrophils (neutrophilia). This technique was able to demonstrate good tolerance level to rumen fistulation by Uda rams making this breed a good candidate for nutritional and physiological studies requiring rumen fistulation

Use of Urea Treated Crop Residue in Ruminant Feed

Large amounts of crop residues are produced annually globally which are hitherto rendered waste. Various farm wastes i.e. crop residue have been effectively, efficiently and economically employed in form of all-inclusive diets. This study summarizes the importance of this waste to ruminant animals especially in developing nations where there is major feeding requirements constraint mostly during the dry seasons of the year. The all-inclusiveness of these residues are created by treating and fortifying these wastes with technologies highlighted in this review. The development and improvement of the quality of this fibrous crop residue is the main thrust of this study through nutrient balancing and amend major nutritional flaws inherent in them. Few practical ways were mentioned and described, others ways to harvest more gains from crop residues were highlighted

Neem (Azadirachta indica) Seed Cake/Kernel as Protein Source in Ruminants Feed

Ruminant production that is very popular in Nigeria livestock production faces series of problems, chief among them is the shortage of protein supply in adequate amount for optimum performance of the animals. The forages, which constitute the bulk of the source of feed for these animals, fluctuate in supply with poor nutrient content especially during the dry season of the year. The convectional protein concentrates which boost the protein supply faces intense competition from man. It has become imperative for intensive effort to be made at making the unconventional sources of protein available to the farmers. Neem seed cake/ kernel cake fits as one of the unconventional protein supply in view of the high level of the protein content and balancing of the amino acids. It is capable of offering a big relief to these protein shortages. The neem seed is readily available in the northern part of Nigeria that is the home to the largest of number of ruminants in the country. However, they are not readily acceptable to the animals due its pungent smell and bitterness caused by the bioactive principles present. This paper reviewed availability of neem seed in Nigeria, the antinutritional and other bioactive factors inherent in the cake as well as the methods of processing and removing them. The review also highlighted the nutritional quality of the cake, effect on haematological and biochemical characteristics; and the economics of use of the cake. The paper concluded that neem seed cake/kernel could readily serve as safe source of protein to the ruminants with appropriate treatment to remove active principles