Abstract

During the dry season, most plants and grasses dry up and ruminants are left with fewer plants to graze on. The plants available during such periods have relatively lower moisture contents and higher antinutritional factors because of the dry nature of the soil and prevalent atmospheric conditions. Increased levels of antinutritional factors above acceptable values, could have a detrimental effect on the metabolic and health status of animals grazing on such plants. This research work sought to determine the phytochemicals present and the levels of some antrinutritional factors in plants (Acacia senegal, Parkia biglobosa, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Acacia sieberiana, Vitellaria paradoxum, Tamarindus indica, Ficus carica, Ziziphus spinachristi Dichrostachus cinerea, Ziziphus mucronata) commonly grazed upon by ruminants in this region, to educate farmers and policy makers on the safety of these plants for ruminant nutrition. The plants were collected and identified, while phytochemical and anti-nutritional profiles were analyzed using standard spectrophotometric procedures. Quantitative antinutritional factors analysis showed that the level of oxalate varied from 15 to 180 mg/100 g, phytic acid from 23.51 to 53.41 mg/100 g and tannins from 0.486 to 1.850 mg/100 g, which are within internationally accepted permissible limits. Results of qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that flavonoids, tannin, cardiac glycosides and steroids were present in all the plants, while anthraquinones were absent. The results suggest that the browse plants in this location contain anti-nutrients at relatively low levels which make these plants safe for ruminant consumption.

Key words: Plants, antinutritional factors, phytochemicals, grazing ruminants