PROXIMATE AND MINERAL CONSTITUENTS OF SELECTED BOTANICAL GALACTAGOGUES IN THE SEMI-ARID NIGERIA

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the proximate and mineral constituents of some selected botanical galactagogues in Kano, semi-arid Nigeria. Five common plants indigenous to the semi-arid environment were collected and evaluated for the variables. The plant species were Ficus thonningii, Guiera senegalensis, Parkia biglobosa, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Tamarindus indica. The study was laid out in a complete randomized design where the different plant species served as treatments. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Results obtained revealed significant (P< 0.05) differences across all the forage plants evaluated with respect to macro and micro minerals as well as proximate constituents. Dry matter values ranged from 92.75-90.72%, while Crude protein was in the range of 19.99-14.84%. The concentration of the macro-minerals though significant (P< 0.05) did not follow any particular pattern. Calcium content ranged from 0.02-0.23 ppm; phosphorus was 6.89-23.86 ppm and iron ranged from 8.27-14.13 ppm. In conclusion, the evaluated galactagogues could be fed to lactating ruminants because all values obtained are within the recommended levels for this category of livestock. However Guiera senegalensis and Parkia biglobosa is recommended for offer to lactating livestock due to their superior content of crude protein and organic matter relative to other species evaluated in the present study.