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A survey of the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 96 (2003) 147–154
A survey of the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria I.C. Okoli a,∗ , C.S. Ebere a , M.C. Uchegbu a , C.A. Udah b , I.I. Ibeawuchi c a
Tropical Animal Health and Production Research Laboratory, Department of Animal science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria b Department of Forestry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria c Department of Crop & Soil Science Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria Received 13 March 2001; received in revised form 31 May 2002; accepted 3 July 2002
Abstract Information is required on the diversity of indigenous plant species for ruminant production in Nigeria. A preliminary field survey was carried out to determine the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding at three rural farming communities spread over three states of south-eastern Nigeria. Indigenous farmers in the area for their ruminant feeding were utilizing 163 fodder plants. Out of this number, 161 were utilized at Orsumoghu in Anambra State, 143 at Umuokanne in Imo State and 111 at Umugo in Abia State. One hundred and eleven plant species were common to the three sites, 25 were common to Orsumoghu and Umuokanne alone, while two each were common to Orsumoghu/Umugo and Umugo/Umuokanne. Twenty-three plants were exclusively identified at Orsumoghu. Thirteen plants were commonly identified as preferred browses at the three sites, while 10 plants each were named exclusively at Abia/Imo and Anambra sites. Dactyledama batterii, Alchornea cordifolia, Aspilia africana, Manniophyton fulvum and Costus afer among others were highly preferred at the three sites. It is probable that the diversity of plants utilized at the different sites may reflect the differences in livestock rearing systems practiced at these sites. Although the present study produced a more comprehensive list of plants utilized for ruminant feeding in the area than previous studies, further in-depth studies are needed in order to understand whether the differences observed between the sites reflect the availability of plants in the areas. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Small ruminants; Browse; Plant diversity; Nigeria
1. Introduction In rural south-eastern Nigeria, sheep and goat production fulfils important economic as well as social functions. About 85% of rural farmers in this humid region keep small ruminants primarily as an investment and sources of manure or for meat at home or during ∗ Corresponding author. Fax: +1-425-977-8763. E-mail address: dr [email protected] (I.C. Okoli).
festivals (Molokwu, 1982; Ademosun, 1988; Bayer, 1986; Ikwuegbu et al., 1994). Traditional methods of keeping small ruminants in the region are tethering or free range grazing. Increasing awareness of the potentials of small ruminants, the need for increased meat production, pressure on land, urbanization and increasing feeding costs for non-ruminants has boosted research into small ruminant production systems in recent times (Ademosun, 1994). Of critical importance to this area
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of research is the generation of detailed baseline information on traditional animal production parameters such as nutrition, disease, disease treatment and socio-economic aspects of animal husbandry. Such information generates important clues for further research on the improvement of indigenous livestock production systems (Gbego and Van den Broek, 1996). For example information on indigenous plants of veterinary importance have provided clues by means of which research could be focused upon a particular therapeutical action thus leading to a circumvention of the more costly western methodologies (Elisabetsky and Nunes, 1990; Rosoanaivo, 1990). While exotic plant species such as Leucaena and Gliricida have received extensive research attention in Nigeria (Adejumo, 1987; Shaawoga and Olatunji, 1994), published information on indigenous browse species especially of south-eastern Nigeria remain scanty. These indigenous species have, however, been shown to survive better in the acid soils of the region (Ndon and Essien, 1987). Furthermore, some of these plants contain high mineral contents on analysis and being evergreen plants they could form an all year round nutritional resource (Chidolue, 1993; Opara, 1996; Oji and Isilebo, 2000). Existing information on the diversity and distribution of browses of south-eastern Nigeria are also scanty and mostly unpublished (Wahua and Oji, 1987; Ucha, 1988; Okafor and Fernandez, 1987; Okigbo, 1980; Ndon and Essien, 1987; Orok and Duguma, 1987). Wahua and Oji (1987) listed only 35 browses for the area while Reynolds and Attah-Krah (1987) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987) listed 30 and 27 plants, respectively. However, informal survey of local farmers knowledge around Owerri area of Imo State seems to contradict these reports (Okoli pers. com., 1999). A survey of the diversity of browse plants of the region is therefore needed since such information will not only promote the development of useful concepts in animal production but also encourage the maintenance of bio-cultural diversity. The present work presents the results of a field survey carried out at three sites in rural farming communities of south-eastern Nigeria to determine the diversity of plant species utilized for small ruminant feeding.
2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study area Imo, Abia and Anambra States are situated in the south-eastern agro-ecological zone of Nigeria which is typically a highly disturbed humid rain-forest variously modified by high population pressure into farm fallows, oil palm bush and compound farms. The state lies between latitude 4◦ 4 and 6◦ 3 N. and longitude 6◦ 15 and 8◦ 15 E. (see Fig. 1). The area is dominated by plains 200 m above sea level except for elevations associated with the Okigwe up-lands (Ofomata, 1975). Seven months of wet season and five months of dry season characterize the climate. Mean annual rainfall is 2500 mm, while temperature and humidity range from 26.5–30 ◦ C and 70–80%, respectively. Population density in the communities studied ranged from 500 to 2000 persons per km2 (NNIC, 1991). The area is inhabited predominantly by Igbo speaking people whose main occupation is subsistence farming. Over 80% of rural households keep livestock especially chicken, West African dwarf sheep and goats, pigs and cattle (Agboola, 1979). Small ruminant rearing systems of the different zones of south-eastern Nigeria has been studied (Molokwu, 1982) and are reported to be mainly extensive and semi-extensive systems, which allow the animals either to roam or graze for a few hours daily or are permanently confined and fodder supplied. While households in the Onitsha area in Anambra State practice permanent confinement in other parts of the region extensive or semi extensive methods are preferred. Fodder is usually supplemented with household kitchen waste in all the areas. Popular farm crops in the region include yam (Dioscorea), cassava (Manihot), maize (Zea mays), vegetables (e.g. Telfairia ocidentalis), banana (Musa sapientum) and plantain (Musa paradisdaca) inter-planted with tree crops such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), citrus (Citrus sinensis), mango (Magnifera indica), breadfruit (Treculia africana), coconut (C. nucifera) etc. 2.2. Field survey and botanical identification Three communities, Umuokanne in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and Umugo in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of
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Fig. 1. Map of south-eastern Nigeria showing sample location.
Abia State were randomly selected for the study. This was done by asking three volunteers to randomly select one state each from a list of the states in south-eastern Nigeria. Thereafter each volunteer was again asked to randomly select one community from a list of the rural communities that make up each of the state they previously selected. The study was undertaken between the months of June and July, 2000. A preliminary visit was made to each of the study sites to identify at least two farming families known for ruminant keeping in each community. Thereafter, these families were visited once every week and four consecutive weeks and family members asked to list the plants they utilized in feeding their small ruminants. This was followed immediately by visits to surrounding compound and farm bushes in company of the farmers for direct sampling and identification of the listed plants. After documenting the local name of each plant, a representative sample was collected, tagged and stored for subsequent botanical identification. In addition to this, grazing sheep and goats were carefully observed at Umuokanne for one to two hours in the mornings and evenings over a pe-
riod of two weeks and samples of the plants they consumed collected and identified with the help of the participating farmers. Information gathered from the different study sites were pooled to build a list of plant species utilized for ruminant feeding in the region. In each study community, farmers were also asked to identify the 30 most preferred and commonly utilized plants. This was also used to build the list of preferred plant at each study sites. Plants sampled at the different sites were identified botanically at the Forestry Department of Imo State Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Those that could not be readily identified at this forestry department were preserved for subsequent identification at the Forestry Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), Nigeria. 2.3. Statistical analysis Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis such as simple averages, frequency distribution of plants and histograms using Microsoft Excel (2000).
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3. Results 3.1. General observation The present study showed that rural farmers in south-eastern Nigeria utilized a variety of plants for small ruminant feeding. The animals were raised essentially on these plants with little kitchen waste supplementation. At Umugo, animals were tethered every morning in surrounding compound bushes and returned in the evenings for feeding with kitchen waste supplements. At Umuokanne, goats were allowed to roam throughout the day while at Orsumoghu the animals were permanently tethered in-situ and were maintained on kitchen wastes and browses gathered from compound and farm bushes. At the latter site, information on the diversity of plants utilized for ruminant feeding was found to reside more in women and their children who were actively involved in the gathering of these plants. At Umugo and Umuokanne on the other hand information on plant species resided more in the men since the system of collection was linked to farming and hunting. 3.2. Diversity of browses A total of 203 plants were identified by the farmers as being utilized for small ruminant feeding in the region (a complete list is available from the authors). Forty of these plants sampled at Orsumoghu (Anambra State) could not be botanically identified at the Forestry Department Owerri and were therefore not listed but were preserved for further identification at the Forestry Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), Nigeria. Of the 163 plants listed, 161 were being utilized at Orsumoghu, 143 at Umuokanne and 111 at Umugo. Fig. 2a, showed the frequency of occurance of these plants at the three study sites. One hundred and eleven species were common to the three sites, while 23 were identified exclusively at Orsumoghu. Twenty-five plants were common to Orsumoghu and Umuokanne sites only while two species each were common to Umugo/Umuokanne and Orsumoghu/Umugo sites exclusively. Thirty-six plant species listed for the region (Table 1) were also being utilized as human food in form of vegetables, fruits and tubers. These species
Table 1 Plants utilized as primary human food and exotic plant utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria Botanical name
IGBO name
1◦ human food
exotic plants
Abelmoschus esculentus Ananas comosus Amaranthus hybridus A. hypogea C. papaya Chysophyllum africanum C. sinensis Cucubita pepo D. edulis Dioscorea dumetorum Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscorea rotundata E. guineensis G. arborea Gnetum africanum Hevea guineensis Ipomoea batata Ipoteria odorutum Kerstingunella geocarpa M. indica Manihot esculatus Manihot utilisima Moringa oleifera Mucuna pruriens var utilis M. sapientum M. paradisdaca Pennisetum spp Persa americants Phaseolus vulgaris Pteracarpus soyanii P. guajava Solanum melongena Sorghum vulgare Spondia mombin Talinum traingulare T. ocidentalis T. africana Vernonia amygdalina Vigna unguiculata Xylobia quintasii Z. mays
Okwuru Akwuoru Inine Okpala Une ezi Udara Oloma Ugboguru Ube Ona Adu Ji-ocha Nkwu Melina Okazi Panaroba Jinwanu Awolowo Akidiala Mangoro Akpu-nkoro Akpu-nkoro Okweoyibo Agbara Ogede Une Okanwajata Ubeoyibo Akidi Oha Gwova Anara-Ofe Oka-okiri Ijikara Gborongi Ugu. Ukwa Onugbu Agwa Uda Ohia Oka
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + − + − + − + + + + − − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + − − − − − − − − − + − + + + − + + + + + + + − + − − + − − − + − − − − − −
(Cucubita pepo and T. occidentalis) were therefore utilized either as kitchen wastes or as post harvest by–products (Z. mays and Arachis hypogea). Compound trees may also be trimmed and their branches fed to ruminants such as (Dacryodes edulis, T. africana and E. guineensis). Exotic plants such as
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Fig. 2. (a) Frequency of occurrence at different sites of plants utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. (b) Frequency distribution of most preferred plants at different sites in south-eastern Nigeria.
Carica papaya, Psidium guajava, Gmelina arborea and Mangifera indica among others were found to be in common use in livestock feeding systems in the area and were regularly being utilized at the three sites studied.
3.3. Preferred plants The list of 30 most preferred and utilized plants at each study site (Table 2) showed that altogether 47 plants were named by the farmers. Dactyledama
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Table 2 The thirty most preferred and utilized plants in Umugo (Abia State), Umuokanne (Imo State) and Orsumoghu (Anambra State) in southeastern Nigeria Botanical name
IMO
Anambra
ABIA
Albiza spp. Alchornea cordifolia Andropogon gayanus Andropogon tectorum Amarantus spinosis Aspilia africana Asystasia gangnetica Baphia nitida C. papaya Centrosema purbescena Chorophora excelsa C. afer Crassocephalum crepidiodes Dactyledama barterii Dialium guineense Diodia scandens Dissotis erecta E. guineensis Emilia coccinaea Eragnostis tenella Ficus spp Ficus exasperata Harugana madagascariensis Ipomoea involucrata Ipomoea mauritiana Landolphia dulcis M. fulvum M. indica Manihot utilisima M. puberula M. oleifera Nariscus altenitolus Nuaclea popegnin Oxytenanthera abyssincia Palisota hirsuta Panicum maximum Pennisetum pedicellatum Pterocarpus mildbraediu R. heudelotti Sida acuta S. mombin Strophantus hispidus T. ocidentalis Triumfetta cordifolia T. africana U. lobata Z. mays
− + + − − + − + + − −
+ + + + − + + + + − + + + + + + + + + − − − + − + + + − + − + − − + − − − − + − − + − + + + +
− + + + + + − + + + − + − + − − − + − + + + + + − − + + + + − + + + − − + + − + + − + + − + −
+ Preferred; − not preferred.
+ + + − − + − − + + − − + + + + + − − + + + + + + + + + − + − + +
barterii, Alchornea cordifolia, Aspilia africana, Manniophyton fulvum and Costus afer among others were named at the three sites while Urena lobata and Andropogon gayanus were among those preferred at Umugo and Orsumoghu. Microdesmis puberula was preferred at Umugo and Umuokanne while Albiza spp, Ficus spp. And Dialum guineense were specifically mentioned at Orusmoghu. These three plants in addition to others such as Albizia ferruginea, Afzelia bellevarbella, Ficus exasperata, Ricinodendron heudelotti and Streophantus hispidus were being planted in compound farms for fodder, manure, mulching, yam staking and other purposes at this sites. During the dry season fodder from these trees were some times cut and sold in the market. Fig. 2b shows the frequency of occurrence of the thirty most preferred plants at each study sites. Thirteen plant species were commonly preferred at the three sites whereas 10 plants each were exclusively mentioned at Umugo/Umuokanne and Orsumoghu. Again, there was a common preference of five plants each by farmers at Orsumoghu/Umuokanne and Umugo. Two plant species were, however, commonly preferred at Umugo and Orsumoghu while another two was exclusive to Umuokanne.
4. Discussion This study has revealed that indigenous farmers in south-eastern Nigeria utilized over 163 fodder plants for their small ruminant feeding thus indicating a striking diversity of plant species being utilized for that purpose. The present list of fodder plants is more comprehensive than previously reported studies by Wahua and Oji (1987), Orok and Duguma (1987) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987) that listed 44 and 27 plant species, respectively for the region. Similarly, Reynolds and Attah-Krah (1987) and Okigbo (1980) listed only 30 and 14 plants, respectively as some of the browses utilized in the region. This discrepancy between the present and past studies could be attributed to the active involvement of indigenous farmers in the present study. Indigenous farmer participation in diagnostic research has been shown to generate richer data in such investigations (Conway, 1986; Lang and Cantrell, 1984; Reoleveld, 1996; Huijsman and Meindertsma, 1994).
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Of the 163 plants listed, 161 were identified at Orsumoghu in Anambra State while 143 and 111 were utilized at Umugo and Umuokanne in Abia and Imo States, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the figures for Orsumoghu and the other two sites as well as between Umuokanne and Umugo. The fact that another set of 40 yet to be identified plants were also sampled at Orsumoghu seem to suggest that there may be a richer diversity of browse plant at that site. Evidence that 25 plants were exclusively common to Umuokanne and Orsumoghu may suggest some relationship in fodder utilization patterns at the two sites. In addition, 63 other plants (identified and unidentified) exclusive to Orsumoghu again support the view that this site may harbour a significantly different fodder utilization information from the other two sites. This is further highlighted by the observation that only two plants were exclusively common to farmers at Umugo and Orsumoghu. Similarly, no fodder plants were found to be in exclusive usage at either Umugo or Umuokanne. These variations in number of plants utilized at the different sites may reflect differences in livestock rearing systems. For example, at Orsumoghu where goats were permanently confined and fodder supplied by members of the farmers family thus making for higher knowledge of browses, the highest, number of plants (161) were being utilized. This is in agreement with earlier reports by Okigbo (1980) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987). Furthermore, Lagemann (1977) had earlier observed that in the evolution of farming systems in the densely populated, high rainfall areas of eastern Nigeria, livestock production usually increases in importance with increasing population density and land scarcity just as cropping intensity also increases, thus leading to shorter fallows and diversification of farm activities. There is therefore the danger of loss of browse diversity with such habitat loss in the region. Thirty-six plant species utilized primarily as human food and some other exotic species permanently established in the region were included in the current list. This is important because the reported habitat loss that leads to loss of browse diversity in the region could render any of these species potential animal feed resource. The significant variations observed in the types of plants being preferred at the different sites may
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again be reflecting the effects of the different husbandry systems on fodder usage. For example, 10 plants were exclusively preferred at Orsumoghu while only two and five were exclusive to Umuokanne and Umugo, respectively. Furthermore, 10 plants were commonly preferred at Umugo and Umuokanne where farmers practiced similar husbandry systems (semi-extensive and extensive), while only two and five plants received common preference from farmers at Orsunoghu/Umugo and Orsumoghu/Umuokanne, respectively. Dactyledama barterii, A. cordifolia, Aspilia africana, M. fulvum and C. afer among others were highly preferred at the three sites. This is in partial agreement with earlier reports by Okafor and Fernandez (1987), Wahua and Oji (1987) who also included Baphia nitida and Hymenadictyon pachyantha among others as most palatable browses of the region. Proximate analyses of some of these plants (Chidolue, 1993; Opara, 1996; Oji and Isilebo, 2000) have yielded promising values thus highlighting the value of the empirical knowledge residing in indigenous farmers of the region. 5. Conclusion The present study shows that there is a striking diversity of plants being utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. Although the number of plants listed far exceeded the previous reports in literature, further in-depth studies are needed especially to enable a comparism of the vegetation present in the study areas with that actually used by farmers for ruminant feeding in order to understand whether the differences observed between the sites reflect the availability of plants in the areas. Furthermore, earlier observations (Ucha, 1988; Wahua and Oji, 1987) that some fodder species are valued for their medical qualities as much as their feed values and the fact that 40 plants sampled at Orsumoghu has not been fully identified also highlight the need for further investigation on the diversity and alternative indigenous uses of these plants. References Adejumo, J.O., 1987. Effect of graded levels of Leucaena leucocephala (Cunnngham) on feed intake and growth of WAD goats. J. Anim. Prod. Res. 7, 65–73.
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Ademosun, A.A., 1988. Trends in small ruminant production for the last two decades and its future in West Central Africa. Keynote address. In: Adeniji, K.O. (Ed.), Improvement of Small Ruminants. OAU (Organisation of African Unity), Nairobi, Kenya. Ademosun, A.A., 1994. Constraints and prospects for small ruminant research and development in Africa. Lebbie, S.H.B., Key, B., Inungu, E.K. (Eds.), Small Ruminant Research and Development in Africa. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Biennial Conference of the African Small Ruminant Research Network. AICC, Arusha, Tanzania, 7–11 December 1992, pp. 1–6. Agboola, S.A., 1979. An agricultural atlas of Nigeria. Oxford University press, Oxford, London. Bayer, W., 1986. Traditional small ruminant production in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria. In: Kaufmann, R., Chater, S., Blench, R. (Ed.), Livestock Systems Research in Nigeria’s Sub-Humid Zone. Proceedings of the 2nd ILCA/NAPRL Symposium. Kaduna, Nigeria, 29 October to 2 November, 1984, pp. 141–166. Chidolue, M.N., 1993. Chemical composition of selected browse plants of the humid tropics. B. Agric. Tech. Project of Federal University of Technology Owerri. Unpublished. Conway, G.R., 1986. Agroecosystem analysis for research and development. Winnrock International, Bangkok, 1986. Elisabetsky, E., Nunes, D.S., 1990. Ethnopharmacology and its role in third world countries. AMBIO 19 (18), 421–429. Gbego, I.J., Van.den Broek, A., 1996. Rapid appraisal and in-depth tropical surveys in participatory diagnostic research on small ruminant production systems: Southern Benin. In: Reoleveld, A.C.W., Van den Broek, A. (Eds.), Focusing Livestock Systems Research. Royal Tropical Institute, KIT Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Huijsman, B., Meindertsma, J.D., 1994. Getting results: an overview and future agenda. In: Meindertsma, J.D. (Ed.), Setting Research Priorities. Towards Effective Farmer-Oriented Research. Development Oriented Research in Agriculture: No. 5, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, pp. 244–260. Ikwuegbu, O.A., Tarawali, G., Njwe, R.M., 1994. The role of the West African Dwarf goats in the economy of the small-holder arable farmer in the sub-humid zone of Nigeria. In: S.H.B. Lebie, Rey B., Irungu, E. (Ed.), Small ruminant research and development in Africa. Proceedings of the second biennial conference of the African small ruminant research. Network AICC, Arusha, Tanzania. 7–11 December 1992, pp. 19–22. Lagemann, J., 1977. Traditional African farming systems in eastern Nigeria.–studien Nr. 98, Weltforum Verlag, Munchen. Lang, M.G., Cantrell, R.P., 1984. Accenting the farmer’s role: Purdua farming systems unit: In: Matlon, P., Cantrell, R., Benoit–Cattin, M., Coming Full Circle: Farmers Participation in the Development of Technology. IDRC, Ottawa, Ont. Molokwu, E.C.I., 1982. Goat production in Nigeria—prospects and problems. In: Proceedings of the National Workshop on
Small Ruminant Diseases and Productions in Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Nigeria. Ndon, B.A., Essien, A.I., 1987. The establishment of local browse species in comparison with Leucaena sp. and Gliricidia sp. In: Reynolds, L., Atta-Krah, A.N. (Eds.). Browse and Small Ruminant Production in South-Eastern Nigeria. Proceedings of a Symposium. International livestock center for Africa, (ILCA). Humid zone program, Ibadan, Nigeria. Ofomata, G.E., 1975. Nigeria in Maps–Eastern Nigeria. Ethiopia Publishing House, Benin city, pp. 8–9. Oji, U.I., Isilebo, J.O., 2000. Nutrient characterization of selected browse plants of humid tropics. In: Proceedings of the 25th annual NSAP conference, 19–23 March 2000, Umudike, Nigeria, pp. 54–54. Okafor, J.C., Fernandez, E.C.M., 1987. Compound farms of south-eastern Nigeria: a predominant agroforestry home garden system with crops and small livestock. Agroforest. Sys. 5 (2), 153–168. Okigbo, B.N., 1980. Plants and foods in Igbo culture Ahiajioku lecture. 28 November 1980, Imo State Government Press, Owerri. Opara, C.C., 1996. The use of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal as feed ingredient in poultry diet. MSc thesis, Federal University of Technology Owerri. Unpublished. Orok, E.J., Duguma, B., 1987. In Reynolds, L., Atta-Krah, A.N. (Eds.), Browse use and small ruminant production in south-eastern Nigeria. In: Proceding of a Symposium. International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA), Humid Zone Programme, Ibadan, pp. 2–12. Reynolds, L., Attah-Krah, A.N. (Eds.), 1987. Browse and small ruminant production in south-eastern Nigeria. In: Proceedings of the Symposium. International Livestock center far Africa (ILCA), Humid Zone Programme, Ibadan, Nigeria. Reoleveld, A.C.W. (Ed.), 1996. Diagnostic phase in research on livestock systems. Focusing livestock systems research. Royal Tropical institute, KIT Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. pp. 14–28. Rosoanaivo, P., 1990. Rain forest of Madagascar: sources of industrial and medicinal plants. AMBIO 19 (8), 421–424. Shaawoga, E.L., Olatunji, E.A., 1994. Intake and the digestibility of sheep fed Leucaena leucocephala. J. Agric. Tech. 2, 32–37. Ucha, N., 1988. Use of indigenous browse species in south-eastern Nigeria. In: Koppell, C.R.S. (Ed.), The Major Significance of ‘Minor’ Forest Products. The Local Use and Value of Forests in the West African Humid Forest Zone. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Rome, 1990. Wahua, I., Oji, U.I., 1987. Survey of browse plants in upland area of Rivers state, Nigeria. In: Reynolds, L., Attah-Krah, A.N. (Eds.), Browse and Small Ruminant Production in South-Eastern Nigeria. Proceedings of a Symposium. International Livestock center for African (ILCA), Humid Zone Programme. Ibadan, Nigeria.
A survey of the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria I.C. Okoli a,∗ , C.S. Ebere a , M.C. Uchegbu a , C.A. Udah b , I.I. Ibeawuchi c a
Tropical Animal Health and Production Research Laboratory, Department of Animal science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria b Department of Forestry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria c Department of Crop & Soil Science Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria Received 13 March 2001; received in revised form 31 May 2002; accepted 3 July 2002
Abstract Information is required on the diversity of indigenous plant species for ruminant production in Nigeria. A preliminary field survey was carried out to determine the diversity of plants utilized for small ruminant feeding at three rural farming communities spread over three states of south-eastern Nigeria. Indigenous farmers in the area for their ruminant feeding were utilizing 163 fodder plants. Out of this number, 161 were utilized at Orsumoghu in Anambra State, 143 at Umuokanne in Imo State and 111 at Umugo in Abia State. One hundred and eleven plant species were common to the three sites, 25 were common to Orsumoghu and Umuokanne alone, while two each were common to Orsumoghu/Umugo and Umugo/Umuokanne. Twenty-three plants were exclusively identified at Orsumoghu. Thirteen plants were commonly identified as preferred browses at the three sites, while 10 plants each were named exclusively at Abia/Imo and Anambra sites. Dactyledama batterii, Alchornea cordifolia, Aspilia africana, Manniophyton fulvum and Costus afer among others were highly preferred at the three sites. It is probable that the diversity of plants utilized at the different sites may reflect the differences in livestock rearing systems practiced at these sites. Although the present study produced a more comprehensive list of plants utilized for ruminant feeding in the area than previous studies, further in-depth studies are needed in order to understand whether the differences observed between the sites reflect the availability of plants in the areas. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Small ruminants; Browse; Plant diversity; Nigeria
1. Introduction In rural south-eastern Nigeria, sheep and goat production fulfils important economic as well as social functions. About 85% of rural farmers in this humid region keep small ruminants primarily as an investment and sources of manure or for meat at home or during ∗ Corresponding author. Fax: +1-425-977-8763. E-mail address: dr [email protected] (I.C. Okoli).
festivals (Molokwu, 1982; Ademosun, 1988; Bayer, 1986; Ikwuegbu et al., 1994). Traditional methods of keeping small ruminants in the region are tethering or free range grazing. Increasing awareness of the potentials of small ruminants, the need for increased meat production, pressure on land, urbanization and increasing feeding costs for non-ruminants has boosted research into small ruminant production systems in recent times (Ademosun, 1994). Of critical importance to this area
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of research is the generation of detailed baseline information on traditional animal production parameters such as nutrition, disease, disease treatment and socio-economic aspects of animal husbandry. Such information generates important clues for further research on the improvement of indigenous livestock production systems (Gbego and Van den Broek, 1996). For example information on indigenous plants of veterinary importance have provided clues by means of which research could be focused upon a particular therapeutical action thus leading to a circumvention of the more costly western methodologies (Elisabetsky and Nunes, 1990; Rosoanaivo, 1990). While exotic plant species such as Leucaena and Gliricida have received extensive research attention in Nigeria (Adejumo, 1987; Shaawoga and Olatunji, 1994), published information on indigenous browse species especially of south-eastern Nigeria remain scanty. These indigenous species have, however, been shown to survive better in the acid soils of the region (Ndon and Essien, 1987). Furthermore, some of these plants contain high mineral contents on analysis and being evergreen plants they could form an all year round nutritional resource (Chidolue, 1993; Opara, 1996; Oji and Isilebo, 2000). Existing information on the diversity and distribution of browses of south-eastern Nigeria are also scanty and mostly unpublished (Wahua and Oji, 1987; Ucha, 1988; Okafor and Fernandez, 1987; Okigbo, 1980; Ndon and Essien, 1987; Orok and Duguma, 1987). Wahua and Oji (1987) listed only 35 browses for the area while Reynolds and Attah-Krah (1987) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987) listed 30 and 27 plants, respectively. However, informal survey of local farmers knowledge around Owerri area of Imo State seems to contradict these reports (Okoli pers. com., 1999). A survey of the diversity of browse plants of the region is therefore needed since such information will not only promote the development of useful concepts in animal production but also encourage the maintenance of bio-cultural diversity. The present work presents the results of a field survey carried out at three sites in rural farming communities of south-eastern Nigeria to determine the diversity of plant species utilized for small ruminant feeding.
2. Materials and methods 2.1. Study area Imo, Abia and Anambra States are situated in the south-eastern agro-ecological zone of Nigeria which is typically a highly disturbed humid rain-forest variously modified by high population pressure into farm fallows, oil palm bush and compound farms. The state lies between latitude 4◦ 4 and 6◦ 3 N. and longitude 6◦ 15 and 8◦ 15 E. (see Fig. 1). The area is dominated by plains 200 m above sea level except for elevations associated with the Okigwe up-lands (Ofomata, 1975). Seven months of wet season and five months of dry season characterize the climate. Mean annual rainfall is 2500 mm, while temperature and humidity range from 26.5–30 ◦ C and 70–80%, respectively. Population density in the communities studied ranged from 500 to 2000 persons per km2 (NNIC, 1991). The area is inhabited predominantly by Igbo speaking people whose main occupation is subsistence farming. Over 80% of rural households keep livestock especially chicken, West African dwarf sheep and goats, pigs and cattle (Agboola, 1979). Small ruminant rearing systems of the different zones of south-eastern Nigeria has been studied (Molokwu, 1982) and are reported to be mainly extensive and semi-extensive systems, which allow the animals either to roam or graze for a few hours daily or are permanently confined and fodder supplied. While households in the Onitsha area in Anambra State practice permanent confinement in other parts of the region extensive or semi extensive methods are preferred. Fodder is usually supplemented with household kitchen waste in all the areas. Popular farm crops in the region include yam (Dioscorea), cassava (Manihot), maize (Zea mays), vegetables (e.g. Telfairia ocidentalis), banana (Musa sapientum) and plantain (Musa paradisdaca) inter-planted with tree crops such as oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), citrus (Citrus sinensis), mango (Magnifera indica), breadfruit (Treculia africana), coconut (C. nucifera) etc. 2.2. Field survey and botanical identification Three communities, Umuokanne in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, Orsumoghu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and Umugo in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of
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Fig. 1. Map of south-eastern Nigeria showing sample location.
Abia State were randomly selected for the study. This was done by asking three volunteers to randomly select one state each from a list of the states in south-eastern Nigeria. Thereafter each volunteer was again asked to randomly select one community from a list of the rural communities that make up each of the state they previously selected. The study was undertaken between the months of June and July, 2000. A preliminary visit was made to each of the study sites to identify at least two farming families known for ruminant keeping in each community. Thereafter, these families were visited once every week and four consecutive weeks and family members asked to list the plants they utilized in feeding their small ruminants. This was followed immediately by visits to surrounding compound and farm bushes in company of the farmers for direct sampling and identification of the listed plants. After documenting the local name of each plant, a representative sample was collected, tagged and stored for subsequent botanical identification. In addition to this, grazing sheep and goats were carefully observed at Umuokanne for one to two hours in the mornings and evenings over a pe-
riod of two weeks and samples of the plants they consumed collected and identified with the help of the participating farmers. Information gathered from the different study sites were pooled to build a list of plant species utilized for ruminant feeding in the region. In each study community, farmers were also asked to identify the 30 most preferred and commonly utilized plants. This was also used to build the list of preferred plant at each study sites. Plants sampled at the different sites were identified botanically at the Forestry Department of Imo State Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Those that could not be readily identified at this forestry department were preserved for subsequent identification at the Forestry Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), Nigeria. 2.3. Statistical analysis Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis such as simple averages, frequency distribution of plants and histograms using Microsoft Excel (2000).
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3. Results 3.1. General observation The present study showed that rural farmers in south-eastern Nigeria utilized a variety of plants for small ruminant feeding. The animals were raised essentially on these plants with little kitchen waste supplementation. At Umugo, animals were tethered every morning in surrounding compound bushes and returned in the evenings for feeding with kitchen waste supplements. At Umuokanne, goats were allowed to roam throughout the day while at Orsumoghu the animals were permanently tethered in-situ and were maintained on kitchen wastes and browses gathered from compound and farm bushes. At the latter site, information on the diversity of plants utilized for ruminant feeding was found to reside more in women and their children who were actively involved in the gathering of these plants. At Umugo and Umuokanne on the other hand information on plant species resided more in the men since the system of collection was linked to farming and hunting. 3.2. Diversity of browses A total of 203 plants were identified by the farmers as being utilized for small ruminant feeding in the region (a complete list is available from the authors). Forty of these plants sampled at Orsumoghu (Anambra State) could not be botanically identified at the Forestry Department Owerri and were therefore not listed but were preserved for further identification at the Forestry Herbarium Ibadan (FHI), Nigeria. Of the 163 plants listed, 161 were being utilized at Orsumoghu, 143 at Umuokanne and 111 at Umugo. Fig. 2a, showed the frequency of occurance of these plants at the three study sites. One hundred and eleven species were common to the three sites, while 23 were identified exclusively at Orsumoghu. Twenty-five plants were common to Orsumoghu and Umuokanne sites only while two species each were common to Umugo/Umuokanne and Orsumoghu/Umugo sites exclusively. Thirty-six plant species listed for the region (Table 1) were also being utilized as human food in form of vegetables, fruits and tubers. These species
Table 1 Plants utilized as primary human food and exotic plant utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria Botanical name
IGBO name
1◦ human food
exotic plants
Abelmoschus esculentus Ananas comosus Amaranthus hybridus A. hypogea C. papaya Chysophyllum africanum C. sinensis Cucubita pepo D. edulis Dioscorea dumetorum Dioscorea bulbifera Dioscorea rotundata E. guineensis G. arborea Gnetum africanum Hevea guineensis Ipomoea batata Ipoteria odorutum Kerstingunella geocarpa M. indica Manihot esculatus Manihot utilisima Moringa oleifera Mucuna pruriens var utilis M. sapientum M. paradisdaca Pennisetum spp Persa americants Phaseolus vulgaris Pteracarpus soyanii P. guajava Solanum melongena Sorghum vulgare Spondia mombin Talinum traingulare T. ocidentalis T. africana Vernonia amygdalina Vigna unguiculata Xylobia quintasii Z. mays
Okwuru Akwuoru Inine Okpala Une ezi Udara Oloma Ugboguru Ube Ona Adu Ji-ocha Nkwu Melina Okazi Panaroba Jinwanu Awolowo Akidiala Mangoro Akpu-nkoro Akpu-nkoro Okweoyibo Agbara Ogede Une Okanwajata Ubeoyibo Akidi Oha Gwova Anara-Ofe Oka-okiri Ijikara Gborongi Ugu. Ukwa Onugbu Agwa Uda Ohia Oka
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + − + − + − + + + + − − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + − − − − − − − − − + − + + + − + + + + + + + − + − − + − − − + − − − − − −
(Cucubita pepo and T. occidentalis) were therefore utilized either as kitchen wastes or as post harvest by–products (Z. mays and Arachis hypogea). Compound trees may also be trimmed and their branches fed to ruminants such as (Dacryodes edulis, T. africana and E. guineensis). Exotic plants such as
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Fig. 2. (a) Frequency of occurrence at different sites of plants utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. (b) Frequency distribution of most preferred plants at different sites in south-eastern Nigeria.
Carica papaya, Psidium guajava, Gmelina arborea and Mangifera indica among others were found to be in common use in livestock feeding systems in the area and were regularly being utilized at the three sites studied.
3.3. Preferred plants The list of 30 most preferred and utilized plants at each study site (Table 2) showed that altogether 47 plants were named by the farmers. Dactyledama
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Table 2 The thirty most preferred and utilized plants in Umugo (Abia State), Umuokanne (Imo State) and Orsumoghu (Anambra State) in southeastern Nigeria Botanical name
IMO
Anambra
ABIA
Albiza spp. Alchornea cordifolia Andropogon gayanus Andropogon tectorum Amarantus spinosis Aspilia africana Asystasia gangnetica Baphia nitida C. papaya Centrosema purbescena Chorophora excelsa C. afer Crassocephalum crepidiodes Dactyledama barterii Dialium guineense Diodia scandens Dissotis erecta E. guineensis Emilia coccinaea Eragnostis tenella Ficus spp Ficus exasperata Harugana madagascariensis Ipomoea involucrata Ipomoea mauritiana Landolphia dulcis M. fulvum M. indica Manihot utilisima M. puberula M. oleifera Nariscus altenitolus Nuaclea popegnin Oxytenanthera abyssincia Palisota hirsuta Panicum maximum Pennisetum pedicellatum Pterocarpus mildbraediu R. heudelotti Sida acuta S. mombin Strophantus hispidus T. ocidentalis Triumfetta cordifolia T. africana U. lobata Z. mays
− + + − − + − + + − −
+ + + + − + + + + − + + + + + + + + + − − − + − + + + − + − + − − + − − − − + − − + − + + + +
− + + + + + − + + + − + − + − − − + − + + + + + − − + + + + − + + + − − + + − + + − + + − + −
+ Preferred; − not preferred.
+ + + − − + − − + + − − + + + + + − − + + + + + + + + + − + − + +
barterii, Alchornea cordifolia, Aspilia africana, Manniophyton fulvum and Costus afer among others were named at the three sites while Urena lobata and Andropogon gayanus were among those preferred at Umugo and Orsumoghu. Microdesmis puberula was preferred at Umugo and Umuokanne while Albiza spp, Ficus spp. And Dialum guineense were specifically mentioned at Orusmoghu. These three plants in addition to others such as Albizia ferruginea, Afzelia bellevarbella, Ficus exasperata, Ricinodendron heudelotti and Streophantus hispidus were being planted in compound farms for fodder, manure, mulching, yam staking and other purposes at this sites. During the dry season fodder from these trees were some times cut and sold in the market. Fig. 2b shows the frequency of occurrence of the thirty most preferred plants at each study sites. Thirteen plant species were commonly preferred at the three sites whereas 10 plants each were exclusively mentioned at Umugo/Umuokanne and Orsumoghu. Again, there was a common preference of five plants each by farmers at Orsumoghu/Umuokanne and Umugo. Two plant species were, however, commonly preferred at Umugo and Orsumoghu while another two was exclusive to Umuokanne.
4. Discussion This study has revealed that indigenous farmers in south-eastern Nigeria utilized over 163 fodder plants for their small ruminant feeding thus indicating a striking diversity of plant species being utilized for that purpose. The present list of fodder plants is more comprehensive than previously reported studies by Wahua and Oji (1987), Orok and Duguma (1987) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987) that listed 44 and 27 plant species, respectively for the region. Similarly, Reynolds and Attah-Krah (1987) and Okigbo (1980) listed only 30 and 14 plants, respectively as some of the browses utilized in the region. This discrepancy between the present and past studies could be attributed to the active involvement of indigenous farmers in the present study. Indigenous farmer participation in diagnostic research has been shown to generate richer data in such investigations (Conway, 1986; Lang and Cantrell, 1984; Reoleveld, 1996; Huijsman and Meindertsma, 1994).
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Of the 163 plants listed, 161 were identified at Orsumoghu in Anambra State while 143 and 111 were utilized at Umugo and Umuokanne in Abia and Imo States, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the figures for Orsumoghu and the other two sites as well as between Umuokanne and Umugo. The fact that another set of 40 yet to be identified plants were also sampled at Orsumoghu seem to suggest that there may be a richer diversity of browse plant at that site. Evidence that 25 plants were exclusively common to Umuokanne and Orsumoghu may suggest some relationship in fodder utilization patterns at the two sites. In addition, 63 other plants (identified and unidentified) exclusive to Orsumoghu again support the view that this site may harbour a significantly different fodder utilization information from the other two sites. This is further highlighted by the observation that only two plants were exclusively common to farmers at Umugo and Orsumoghu. Similarly, no fodder plants were found to be in exclusive usage at either Umugo or Umuokanne. These variations in number of plants utilized at the different sites may reflect differences in livestock rearing systems. For example, at Orsumoghu where goats were permanently confined and fodder supplied by members of the farmers family thus making for higher knowledge of browses, the highest, number of plants (161) were being utilized. This is in agreement with earlier reports by Okigbo (1980) and Okafor and Fernandez (1987). Furthermore, Lagemann (1977) had earlier observed that in the evolution of farming systems in the densely populated, high rainfall areas of eastern Nigeria, livestock production usually increases in importance with increasing population density and land scarcity just as cropping intensity also increases, thus leading to shorter fallows and diversification of farm activities. There is therefore the danger of loss of browse diversity with such habitat loss in the region. Thirty-six plant species utilized primarily as human food and some other exotic species permanently established in the region were included in the current list. This is important because the reported habitat loss that leads to loss of browse diversity in the region could render any of these species potential animal feed resource. The significant variations observed in the types of plants being preferred at the different sites may
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again be reflecting the effects of the different husbandry systems on fodder usage. For example, 10 plants were exclusively preferred at Orsumoghu while only two and five were exclusive to Umuokanne and Umugo, respectively. Furthermore, 10 plants were commonly preferred at Umugo and Umuokanne where farmers practiced similar husbandry systems (semi-extensive and extensive), while only two and five plants received common preference from farmers at Orsunoghu/Umugo and Orsumoghu/Umuokanne, respectively. Dactyledama barterii, A. cordifolia, Aspilia africana, M. fulvum and C. afer among others were highly preferred at the three sites. This is in partial agreement with earlier reports by Okafor and Fernandez (1987), Wahua and Oji (1987) who also included Baphia nitida and Hymenadictyon pachyantha among others as most palatable browses of the region. Proximate analyses of some of these plants (Chidolue, 1993; Opara, 1996; Oji and Isilebo, 2000) have yielded promising values thus highlighting the value of the empirical knowledge residing in indigenous farmers of the region. 5. Conclusion The present study shows that there is a striking diversity of plants being utilized for ruminant feeding in south-eastern Nigeria. Although the number of plants listed far exceeded the previous reports in literature, further in-depth studies are needed especially to enable a comparism of the vegetation present in the study areas with that actually used by farmers for ruminant feeding in order to understand whether the differences observed between the sites reflect the availability of plants in the areas. Furthermore, earlier observations (Ucha, 1988; Wahua and Oji, 1987) that some fodder species are valued for their medical qualities as much as their feed values and the fact that 40 plants sampled at Orsumoghu has not been fully identified also highlight the need for further investigation on the diversity and alternative indigenous uses of these plants. References Adejumo, J.O., 1987. Effect of graded levels of Leucaena leucocephala (Cunnngham) on feed intake and growth of WAD goats. J. Anim. Prod. Res. 7, 65–73.
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