Feed Resources and Seasonal Nutrient Composition of Predominant Forages for Small Ruminant Production in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun state, Nigeria

Small ruminant production is largely in the hand of traditional handlers settled in rural areas. Iwo Local Government Area is well noted for small ruminant production. However, there is paucity of information on the feed resources availability in quality and quantity at varying seasons for small ruminant production in the study area. Hence, two studies were conducted in study area to investigate the feed resources utilized by handlers at different seasons and evaluate the nutrient composition of predominant forages available for sheep and goat production in the area. Study I: Information on herd size and composition, feeds, feeding method, water supply and housing for small ruminant production were elicited using structured questionnaire. Study II: Samples of predominant forages in the area were collected once per season and analysed for the nutrient composition using standard procedures. It was found that the male respondents reared sheep especially ram than goat while the females took to goat particularly doe (female goat). Small ruminants in the area grazed on natural grasslands, most farmers supplied water (87.2%) from well (76.4%) to their small ruminants but provided no housing facilities (92.0%). The occasional feed offered to sheep and goats in wet season was mainly kitchen wastes (46.2%) while in dry season, kitchen wastes (25.7%), cassava and its by-products (25.7%) as well as corn gluten (25.1%)