PROXIMATE AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF SOME VEGETABLE PARTS USED IN FEEDING RUMINANT ANIMALS

The study was conducted to determine the proximate and mineral constituents present in the residues of some vegetables used in feeding ruminant animals. Four samples were used for the study namely; amaranth stem (Amaranthus viridis), fluted pumpkin stem (Telfaria occidentalis), carrot tops (Platysace linearifolia) and melon fruit (Cucumis melo). The samples were collected and shade dried after which they were ground and sieved with a 2 mm sieve before taken to laboratories for analyses. Collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance and results for all parameters revealed significant (p<0.05) differences. Results of proximate constituents showed ash content ranges from 8.00–13.75% with amaranth stem having the least and melon fruits have the highest. Crude fibre contents were between the range of 13.33 - 44.99 % for melon fruit and fluted pumpkin stem respectively. Results for crude protein ranged from 4.57–12.63 % with carrot tops having the least and amaranth stem have the highest. In terms of their mineral profile, potassium ranged from 13618.69– 48854.43 mg/kg with carrot tops having the least and amaranth stem having the highest. Phosphorus content ranged from 1208 – 2793 mg/kg for carrot tops and fluted pumpkin stem respectively. The values for nitrogen were in the range of 1.49–4.99 mg/kg where melon fruit had the least and carrot tops revealed the highest content. In conclusion, the vegetable part residues evaluated have the potential as feed supplement in ruminant animals and thus it is recommended that feeding trials be conducted in ruminant animals to establish their utilization by these species of livestock.