Availability and estimation of crop by-product yields for small ruminant production in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out in some Local Government Areas of Cross River State of Nigeria to identify and ascertain the availability, level of production and the yields of crop by-products derived from commonly cultivated crops that can serve as feed for small ruminants. The results show that the various staple crops commonly grown in Cross River State produce the following crop by-products in a decreasing order of yields- cassava peels> yam peels> corn cobs> maize sheaths> plantain peels> maize offal> rice offal> cassava sievets> banana peels> fried garri sievets> groundnut haulms> sweet potato peels. The annual yield of crop by-products per Local Government Area is estimated as follows: cassava peels 89,226.40, yam peels 32,318.80, maize sheaths and offal 358,050.00, rice 0ffal 37,140.00, cowpea haulms 34,064.00, groundnut haulms 41,872.00, banana peels and rejects 18,420.00, plantain peels 7,598.40, cocoyam peels 11,944.00, sweet potato peels and rejects 8,024.00 tonnes per selected LGA.The total amount of crop by-products (638,657.60 tonnes) generated each year from the staple food crops will go a long way in solving the problem of feed scarcity for ruminants during dry season.

Key words: crop by-products, dry season feeding, small ruminants.