Stella A. Emmanuel, Husseini D. Ibrahim, Shuaibu R. Mika, Fortune M. Alabi, Olutayo O. Olajide, Alhassan A. Sallau, Oluseye Adedirin, Fadeyi A.E, Akiode S.O, Uzama Danlami and Orishadipe A.T
Sweet sorghums have been bred primarily for syrup production, the byproduct of which could provide a source of livestock feed. Sweet Sorghum stalk, cowpea fodder and husk, rice bran and coconut cake were analyzed for nutritional, anti-nutritional and mineral content. Livestock feed was formulated and analyzed for their nutritional and energy value. The sugar content analysis carried out in this work showed higher total sugar and brix (%) in the species NRSS00012 at 23% and 11.46% for 501 which is the lowest. The sugar type identified in the extract from the most of stalk samples are Glucose, D-fructose, sucrose, NRSSS005 however showed the presence of only galactose. The result of the nutritional analysis showed protein in the range 4.08 to 1.22% NRSS0012 to 503, carbohydrate is in the range of 9.35 in 501 to 5.36 in 503 sample. The fiber content of 33.28% in NRSS0005 was the highest and lowest of 23.03% in NRSSS0003. Ash and lipid are in the range 1.77 to 1.10 and 2.20 to 1.35 in sample 503 and NRSS005 and Dan sadau and NTJ-2 respectively. NTJ-2 had the highest moisture content of 63.69% and lowest value of 53.04% in NRSS005 sample. Anti-nutrient analysis showed the highest value of 5.01% alkaloid in NRSS0003 sample and the lowest value of 1.51% in the 503 sample. The mineral analysis showed the trend of K>Ca>Na>Zn>Cu>Fe in the sweet sorghum stalk. The feed compounded showed protein content of 4.37% for dairy feed and 4.23% for beef feed. Fiber content was 32.13% in dairy feed and 32.40% beef feed. The total digestible nitrogen was 92.33% for dairy feed while beef feed was 97.93%. Nitrogen free energy for dairy feed and beef feed was 46.73% and 54.01% respectively. The mineral composition showed Ca as 25.02 mg/Kg and 22.87 mg/kg, Mg is 8.60 mg/ kg and 8.50 mg/kg, K is 27.14 and 45.40, Na 25.02 and 22.52, Zn 0.66 and 0.61, Fe 12.81 and 14.98, Mn 3.71 and 2.19, Cu, 0.96 and 0.52, P 18.15 and 17.90 and S 31.26 and 25.67 mg/Kg for dairy and beef feed respectively. The present result showed that sweet sorghum stalk from the different cultivars analyzed are good sources of raw materials for the production animal feeds, while the results from the feed compounded will be a good source of nutritional feed for dairy and beef cattle.