Abstract:
This
research
was
carried
out
to investigate
the
species
composition,
fresh
and
dry
matter
yield
and
the
contribution
of farm
weeds
in the
feeding
of ruminant
animals
during
cropping
season
in Sokoto
metropolis.
Five
farm
weed
selling
centers
were
randomly
selected
from
3 Local
Government
Areas
that
form
the
Sokoto
metropolis.
The
result
revealed
that
Cynodon
dactylon,
Cenchrus
biflorus,
Hyparrenia
rufa,
Commelina
bengalensis
and
Oryza longistiminata
were
the
most
frequent
species
of
farm
weeds
offered
for
sale
with
frequencies
of 9.4,
9.9,
12.3,
9.9
and
10.5%
respectively.
The
average
fresh
and
dry
matter
weights
of 16 and
4kg
per
bundle
were
recorded
respectively.
Both
fresh
and
dry
matter
yields
of weeds
varied
significantly
(P<0.05)
between
the
weeks
of the
experiment.
Week
8 produced
the
highest
(P<0.05)
mean
fresh
and
DM
weights
of20
and
5.5
kg per
bundle
respectively.
The
20 farm
weed
selling
centres
recorded
in Sokoto
metropolis
produced
a total
of 4.4
tonnes
DM
day'.
It
was
estimated
that
farm
weeds
contributed
about
10%
of the
total
dry
matter
requirement
of ruminant
animals
(cattle,
sheep
and
goats)
populations
in Sokoto
metropolis.
It was
therefore
concluded
that
farm
weeds
make
significant
contribution
to livestock
feeding
in
Sokoto
metropolis
during
the
cropping
season,
when
animal's
movement
is restricted.
