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Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves are less acceptable by ruminants due to their high contents of anti-nutritional factors. The effect of preserving Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves as hay and silage or silage: hay combinations on the proximate, fibre fractions, anti-nutritional factors, minerals and vitamins compositions were investigated in this study. Six experimental treatments consisting of 100% fresh Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% ensiled Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% sun dried Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 75% silage: 25% hay, 50% silage: 50% hay and 25% silage: 75% hay were formulated. Each treatment was replicated 3 times and analyzed for chemical composition. The crude protein content ranged from 14.70 – 22.05%, which significantly differed (p<0.05) across treatments with the highest value in the fresh leaves. The values for neutral detergent fibre ranged from 56.64 – 57.92 %, acid detergent fibre from 37.14 – 39.87 % and acid detergent lignin from 13.30 – 14.96 %, they all differed significantly (p<0.05) across treatments with highest values in the 100% ensiled treatment. Preservation as silage significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentrations of tannin, phytate and hydrocyanic acid, while preservation as hay significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentration of saponin. The mineral contents of the EC leaves preserved as silage, hay and silage: hay combinations (Treatments 2 - 6) compared favourably with the mineral contents of the fresh leaves (Treatment 1). Preserved EC leaves (Treatments 2 – 6) had significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of vitamin C (444.21 –657.60 mg/100g) than the fresh leaves (308.79mg/100g). Thus preservation of E. cyclocarpum leaves as silage or hay improved its chemical composition and reduced its contents of anti-nutritional factors.

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This study, conducted in Bauchi and Zaria areas of the northern guinea savanna zone of Nigeria involved livestock that encountered problems during parturition Ninety eight Hausa-Fulani livestock holdings involving cattle, sheep and goats were investigated. The study focused on causes of and remedies for dystocia. The study showed that farmers have traditional means of handling difficult birth in ruminants. The identifiable causes of dystocia included age and size of dam, abnormal foetal presentation, poor health, multiple foetuses and weight and sex of the young. The management of this problem included the use of hand to correct foetal position, lubrication of the vulvo-vagina passage with mashed okra fruit for easy passage, and oral administration of solutions from native herbs, snake scales, potash and ashes.