Low-Cost Multi-nutrient Blocks Produced from Locally Sourced Ingredients for Small Agro-Pastoral Farmers in the Sahel Zone of West Africa

Abstract

This study was carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching and Research farm Nigeria to formulate and produce low-cost multi-nutrient blocks from locally sourced ingredients for small agro-pastoral farmers. The experimental design was set in a factorial arrangement consisting of different locally sourced ingredients at five formulations (F1 - F5). The analysis of the manufactured multi-nutrient blocks after 3 weeks of drying revealed that the moisture in the blocks was almost completely removed (94.6 – 97.9 %DM). The %CP, %CF, %EE and %Ash ranged from 13.56 – 26.43 %, 19.50 – 26.50%, 2.50 – 3.00% and 10.00 – 14.50 % respectively with the cost of production per block ranging from N74 – N94 equivalent to $0.45 – $0.58 USD. Of all the formulations, F2, in addition to its least cost of production (N74/block), had the better compactness and hardness that can ensure the slow release of nutrients to animals as they lick the blocks. Taken together, using locally available resources would not only produce affordable multi-nutrients blocks for small farmers but could equally contribute to waste management through the recycling of waste into feed for animals thereby abating pollution in the environment.

Keywords: Developing countries, Multi-nutrients block, Ruminant animals, Semi-arid regions, Small local farmers.