Harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants to small ruminants by youths in Nsukka urban, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to assess harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants to small rumants by youths in Nsukka urban of Enugu State, Nigeria. Data for the study were collected from 95 youths through the use of a structured interview schedule. Frequency distribution, percentage and mean statistic were used in the analysis of the data. The findings revealed that a greater proportion (72.63%) of the youths were at their very tender age (10 – 19 years) with a mean age of 12 years. Both male and female youths were involved in the harvesting and feeding of dispersed forage plants in the study area and they did not harvest for commercial purposes. All (100.0%) the respondents had some training for skill acquisition in identifying, selecting, harvesting and sorting of dispersed forage plants. Their major sources of training included their parents and peers. Harvesting was normally carried out once per day and preferably, in the morning hours. Apart from harvesting the dispersed forage plants for their parents, they also participated in feeding the small ruminants. Height of some dispersed forage plants, seasonal variation and snake bite / insect sting were the major problems militating against effective harvesting. It was suggested that the Department of Agricultural Extension and the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka should come-up with small ruminants feeding improvement programme through which the youths could be better informed, especially, about identification, selection, harvesting, sorting and storage of dispersed forage plants.


Keywords: Forage plants, Nsukka-Urban; Ruminants, Nigeria

Agro-Science Vol. 3 (2) 2006: pp. 45-52