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The objective of this paper is to review the nutrient requirements and feed resource availability for cattle in the tropical Africa. Cattle require consistent source of protein, energy, minerals, vitamins and water to maintain productivity and health. The nutrient requirements of cattle can be broken down into maintenance, lactation, growth and reproduction requirements. Forages have the ability to supply all the energy needed to maintain highly-productive cattle throughout the growing season, but only managed intensively. Legume-grass pasture will easily have protein content greater than 18% during the vegetative stage, as plants mature, the nutrient values lowers. Cattle require 3 to 30 gallons of water per day, at the rate of one gallon of water per 45 kg body weight during wet season and two gallons of water per 45 kg body weight during hot weather. Supplementation of low quality roughage is done by feeding limiting nutrients in the form of concentrates (energy and protein), minerals, non-protein nitrogenous (NPN) substances (urea and poultry litter) or green forages. However, in Nigeria, forage quality and availability vary greatly from season to season which however, affect the output of the animals. The nutritive value of pastures fall rapidly with maturity and, during the dry season, the available feed is lignified. Likewise, protein, vitamins and mineral elements are limited in grassland pastures during the dry season. Crop residues, by-products and browse plants remained the most outstanding feed supplements for cattle and other livestock in Nigeria.

Keywords: Nutrient requirements, feed resource, availability, cattle, tropical Africa.

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Citation: Kubkomawa H, Olawuye HU, Krumah LJ, Etuk EB, Okoli IC (2015). Nutrient requirements and feed resource availability for pastoral cattle in the tropical Africa: A review. J. Agric. Crop Res. 3(7): 100-116.