INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

Livestock is essential for increased agricultural production in Nigeria. Among livestock-

based vocations, small ruminants occupy a pivotal position because of their huge potential to

bring about rapid economic growth. In Nigeria, small ruminants are kept as a dynamic

component of farming activities, particularly by smallholder farmers. A large number of rural

households raise sheep and goats with a herd size varying from 3 to 10 heads. These herds

represent more than 90% of total goat population in Nigeria (Akpa et al., 2000). Small

ruminants play a vital role in the livelihood of the average Nigerian, such as goats with a

population of 88.04 million, sheep with 50.3 million, and cattle with 20.9 million STATISTA

(2024). The importance of ruminants in farmers' livelihoods in underdeveloped nations

cannot be overstated. Livestock productivity in Nigeria takes a seasonal fluctuating pattern

following the variability of available feeds. Consequently, livestock experience a drastic loss

in weight and milk production during the seven months of dry season in the major livestock

producing areas of the Sudan savannah and Sahel regions. One of the major factors limiting

the productivity of small ruminants in developing countries is the over-dependence on low

digestible feeds which at certain periods of the year cannot meet even the maintenance

requirements of these animals.

Small ruminants feed mainly on forages and crop residues, are affected by seasonality, and

experience seasonal weight fluctuation between the wet and dry periods of the year (Dayo et

al., 2009). Seasonal availability of production inputs such as feed, water, and quality pasture

constitute a constraint on livestock production (PCOL, 2003). According to Adegbola (1982),

the scarcity of energy and protein feedstuffs during the dry season is a major setback to

ruminant livestock production in the tropics. During this period, the available forages are dry,

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the protein content of which is very low, and there is a marked decrease in voluntary intake

and digestibility by the animal (Steinbach, 1997). Ruminants often graze on pasture, which

can vary in quality and availability depending on factors like season, climate, and

management practices. Limited nutrient availability is also one of the challenges faced by

ruminants, especially due to high cost of conventional feeds like groundnut haulms and

cowpea husk which led to search of alternatives feeds stuffs like Ficus polita leaf meal. Yet,

these plants might contain anti-nutritional factors, such as tannins, alkaloids, and secondary

metabolites, which might lead to nutritional stress (Gupta et al., 2013). These compounds can

reduce palatability, impair microbial activity, and interfere with rumen fermentation (Patra &

Saxena, 2011).

Also, due to the high poverty level among the local livestock farmers in the country, chaffs of

cereals, crop residues, agro-industrial wastes, grasses and leaves of trees are being used to

feed farm animals without minding their nutritional constituents or their toxicity, because

they are relatively cheap and readily available (Oluremi et al., 2007). The use of these non-

conventional sources to complement the conventional ones is however, affected by several

factors ranging from low protein contents, high fiber content, amino acid imbalance to the

presence of anti-nutritive factors which generally have significant negative effects on

livestock production as they interfere with the bioavailability of the mineral elements

required for healthy growth of livestock (O1uremi et al., 2007). This experiment was

therefore designed to study the nutrient Ficus intake, digestibility and growth performance of

Uda rams fed varying proportions of polita.

Ficus polita, also called Fig tree, is one of the Ficus species belonging to the

family Moraceae. They are often distinguished by their characteristic root growing from the

branches (Keay et al,, 1964) and a common homestead tree in Nigeria grown to provide

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shade around houses. The leaves are consumed by small ruminants during the dry season to

supplement low quality roughages (Ndamitso et al., 2010).

Statement of Research Problem

Feed accounts for about 60–70% of the cost of animal production (Tufarelli et al., 2013). The

increasing cost of feed resources in livestock production has been identified as a serious

impediment to meeting the demand for animal protein, particularly in developing countries

(Adejinmi et al., 2000). The most expensive feed ingredients are protein sources such as

groundnut and soybean meal due to their low availability and high demand. Therefore, there

is a need to identify and evaluate readily available and inexpensive alternative protein sources

for ruminants (Tufarelli et al., 2013). Some researchers were conducted to evaluate the

potentials of Ficus polita leaf in ruminant feed (Ndamitso et al., 2010; Abubakar et al., 2015).

Yet, most of these researches do not evaluate the nutrient intake and digestibility of Uda rams

in semi-arid region of Sokoto, as it was established that breeds and environment might

influence nutrient intake, digestibility and performance of livestock animals.

Justification of the Study

The leaves of F. polita are rich in nutrients, and despite the presence of anti-nutritional

factors, they can be used as feed for sheep, especially when dried. The current study was

designed to evaluate F. polita leaf as a possible feed ingredient in sheep's diet. It was

established that a high correlation exists between nutrient intake, digestibility and growth

performance. Therefore, it becomes important to evaluate the feeding value of F. polita by

assessing the nutrient intake and digestibility of the animal. The current study will also add to

the pool of knowledge, as there is a dearth of information regarding the effect of F. polita on

nutrient intake and meat digestibility of Uda rams.

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Aim and Objectives of the Study

The study aims to study the effect of Ficus polita on Nutrient Intake and Digestibility of Uda

rams in semi arid region. While the specific objectives were:

1. To evaluate the effect of F. polita on nutrient intake of Uda rams in semi-arid regions.

2. To evaluate the effect of F. polita on digestibility of Uda rams in semi-arid regions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental Site

The study was carried out at the Department of Animal Science Livestock Teaching and

Research Farm, Main Campus, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, located within latitude

N13°06′58″ and 13°07′24″ and longitude 5°15′03″ and 5°15 ′38″ in the northern part of

Nigeria (Akinbiyi et al., 2019) and altitude of 292 m above sea level (Nakakana et al., 2020).

The state falls within the Sudan savannah vegetation zone with alternating short and dry

seasons. The hot dry spell extends from March to May and sometimes to June in the

extreme northern part. A short, cool, dry period (harmattan) occurs between October and

February (Balarabe et al., 2015). The annual rainfall is about 500mm and raining season

extending from mid-May to September while the dry season lasts for more than 7 months

starting in November all through until April of the following year (Akinbiyi et al., 2019).

Maximum temperature of 41oC has been reported in April and minimum of 12oC in January

(Shiru et al., 2020). The state is one of the largest livestock producing area in Nigeria.

Experimental Design and Diet Formula

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A completely randomized experimental design (CRD) will be used in this experiment with

number of animals representing replication and graded levels of formulated feeds

representing treatments. Three animals will be allocated to each treatment one animal per

replication, the animals will be balanced for weight prior to the commencement of

experiment. Each animal will be housed in a pen measuring 2m 1m, which will be

disinfected. Each group will be assign to one of the experimental diets and fed ad libitum in

the morning for 9 weeks. Water will be offered ad libitum to the animals.

Experimental animals and their management

Nine (9) rams with average weight 25kg will be used in this experiment, the animals will be

purchased from local markets in Sokoto State. The apparently healthy sheep will be

quarantined at the Livestock Teaching and Research Farm for 14 days for adaptation to new

environment. The animals will be dewormed using albendazole super 10% (0.5 mg/kg). The

pens will be cleaned regularly so also the feed and water troughs every morning before

feeding. The gross composition of the experimental feed is presented in Table 1.

Sourcing and Preparation of Plant Materials

The leaves of Ficus polita will be obtained within the University premises. The leaves will be

shade dried to a crispy dry condition and thereafter ground using pestle and mortar, the

sample will be blend with an electric blender and then sieved through a mesh size of 600µm

to obtain fine powders.

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Table 1: Gross composition of the experimental diets

Feed ingredients (%) T1 T2 T3

Ficus polita fruit meal 0.0 2.5 5

Soybean meal 7.5 5.0 2.5

Wheat offal 31.5 29.5 34.0

Cowpea husk 25.0 28.0 27.50

Cotton seed cake 35.0 34.0 30.0

Salt 1.0 1.0 1.0

Total 100 100 100

Calculated crude protein (%) 18.34 17.63 17.41

Calculated crude fibre (%) 22.31 22.19 21.98

Calculated Energy (Kcal/Kg) 1741 1698 1683

Data collection

Feed Consumption

Feed consumption from each treatment will be measured daily by subtracting left over from

feed served per group and adequate measures will be taken to ensure against spillage and

related wastage. The mean daily feed intake will be calculated on weekly basis by dividing

the amount consumed by the number of sheep.

Nutrient intake

The formulated diets will be analysed for their proximate constituents according to the

method of AOAC (2016). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid

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detergent lignin (ADL) will be determined by methods of Van Soest et al. (1991). Cellulose

and hemicellulose will be estimated as differences between ADF and lignin and NDF and

ADF, respectively.

Nutrient intake will be determined by multiplying nutrient in feed multiply by feed intake of

the rams in grams. Feed intake (g) x Nutrient in feed (g)………………….(i)

Digestibility trial

At the end of feeding trial, digestibility trial will be conducted using three (3) animals from

each treatment. The animals will be fed the same experimental diets used in the feeding trial.

The digestibility trial will last for three weeks (two weeks for the adaptation and one week for

total feacal sample collection). Feacal collection (harness) bags will be used in the sample

collection. These will be fitted on the first day of adaptation. During the collection period,

daily feed intake and total output from each animal will be recorded. After thorough mixing,

5% of the feacal sample will be sampled and oven dried at 60 oC for dry matter determination,

and subsequently analysed. Apparent digestibility will be calculated using the formula;

Digestibility = Feed intake ˗ Feed voided × 100%............................................(ii)

Data Analyses

Data on daily voluntary and nutrient intakes, nutrient digestibility coefficients, will be

analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Treatment means will be separated using

LSD. While the p-value will be set at 0.05.

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