FOREST TREE SEEDS AS ALTERNATIVE FEED SOURCE FOR LIVESTOCK

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the potential of forest tree seeds as alternative feed source for ruminant livestock. The experimental design was a 5x5 Latin Square Design. The treatments consisted of Parkia biglobosa, Anacardium occidentale, Tetracarpidhum conophorum and Jacaranda mimosfolia, respectively. Panicum maximum hay was used as a control. Fifteen West African Dwarf goats of 4-7 months of age were used in the digestion studies of the seed cakes. Results indicated that the seeds had high calorific value. Crude Protein content ranged between 37.4% - 24.4%. Results of the research showed that Jacaranda mimosfolia and Anacardium occidentale could be fed solely or in supplementary rations to goats. Further research should be done to investigate the use of these tree seeds in combination with other feeding stuffs in complete diets.