Nutritional Characteristics of Available Feed Resources in Maradi Area of Niger

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritive value of feeds and to determine the effect of urea treatment on roughages. Straws, legumes and concentrates were collected in the dry season. Straws were millet stover, sorghum stover, Diheteropogon hagerupii, Eragrostis tremula and Schizachyrium exile; forage legumes were groundnut haulms and cowpea husk; concentrates were wheat bran, millet bran and cottonseed cake. Samples of straws and cowpea husk were either untreated or treated with urea. Feeds were analyzed for DM, OM, N, NDF, ADF, ADL and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN). Degradability characteristics were determined using two Jersey cows. Cereal straws showed significant (P<0.001) variation in the fibre fractions and N content. Urea treatment of straws increased (P<0.001) N and ADIN content. Forage legumes had different (P<0.01) NDF and N. Urea treatment of cowpea husk increased (P<0.001) N. Concentrates differed (P<0.001) in N, and fibre. Straws had different (P<0.001) soluble fraction (wash), effective degradability (ED); urea treated straws had higher (P<0.001) ED. Forage legumes affected (P<0.01) solubility and ED, while treating cowpea husk decreased (P<0.05) ED. Concentrate affected (P<0.001) N degradability and ED. Effective degradability of DM and OM varied (P<0.001) within concentrates. These findings suggest that consideration of nutritional quality should be taken when formulating diets for ruminants in the study areas.