Estimation of availability and distribution of browse species and number of small ruminant animals among farmers in selected communities of Nsukka Area of Enugu State.

Abstract

A study of browse plants in Nsukka rural communities was conducted between February and March 2005. Structured questionnaires were administered to farmers in four communities in Nsukka Local Government Area. Twenty (20) browse species belonging to 14 families were identified. All the sampled respondents kept sheep and/or goats and depend on the natural pasture as the main source of browse plants for the animals. Fifty five per cent (55.0%) of the farmers sampled practised stall feeding while 45.0% of the respondents left the farm animals to roam and graze, especially during the dry season after crop harvests. The mean stock number per farmer in this study was 4.9 for goats and 1.0 for sheep with the highest numbers being in the Eha-Alumona community. In Obukpa community, sheep did not feature significantly. Species in the families of Bignonaceae, Chrysobalinaceae, Fabaceae, and Moraceae, are common in all the communities. The family of Moraceae has the largest number of commonly utilized browse plants.