On-Station Nutritive Assessment of Feed-Block and Feed-Back of Its On-Farm Acceptance by Small Ruminant Farmers in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Animal production in Nigeria, particularly Small Ruminant (SR) animals are largely dominated by traditional livestock keepers who do not have direct access to information on research output. Also, SRs are faced with the challenge of adequate and quality forage availability in dry season. However, in wet season, forages are available in quantity and quality, hence; they can be stored as feed-bank for later use in dearth periods. Information on the use of feed-block for SR production in Osun state, Nigeria is not well documented. Three feed-blocks: Gliricidia-Based (GB), Cassava-Top Based (CTB) and GB/CTB mixture (ratio 3:4) were made on-station and the nutritive value determined (proximate composition and in-vitro fermentation) using standard procedures. The feed-blocks were introduced to SR farmers in the study area. Twenty interested resource persons keeping SRs in the area were sourced and on-farm demonstration of feed-block making was done. Feed-back was evaluated using a structured questionnaire to assess acceptability and constraints in making feed-blocks. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p = 0.05. It was found that the crude protein of the feed blocks ranged from 15.3 to 20.1% (CTB and GB/CTB). In-vitro fermentation analyses showed organic matter digestibility of 37.1 (CTB) and 50.3% (GB/CTB) while the degradability: 53.1% (GB) and 66.4% (GB/CTB). Sixty-one percent of the resource persons produced feed-blocks of which 63.6% indicated insufficient time for feed-block production as the major constraint to its practice. Adoption of feed-block for small ruminant production in the area was high; however, it was constrained by time.