Crop by-products and Residues Availability and Utilization as Feed Resources for Small Ruminant Production Systems in Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

In Nigeria the most difficult problem in ruminant feeding is the scarcity of energy and protein feedstuffs
during the dry season. There is also competition between ruminant species with humans for the
utilization of cereals. This can be resolved by utilizing crop or agricultural by-products to ameliorate
feed deficit problems. This article reviewed the state of availability and utilization of crop by-products
as livestock feeds for small ruminants in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. It
was revealed that the predominant crop by-products in order of availability and utilization as livestock
feeds were cassava peels, yam peels, sweet potato peels, plantain peels, banana peels, cocoyam
peels, maize sievate and fried garrisievate. Their use is highly recommended because of their ready
availability, cheapness and acceptability that can help to solve the problems of food deficits for small
ruminants in the area. Factors that will limit their use are: availability in terms of time, location,
seasonality and storage, high cost of their handling and transportation from the production site to the
farm, their high moisture contents that causes storage problems, mould growth such as aflatoxin
which may cause toxicity and the presence of anti-nutritional factors. Despite these shortcomings they
can be seen as possible options to solve the problems of feed scarcity in traditional sheep and goat
farming systems.