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A study of multipurpose browse and grass species from four rural communities of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State was conducted between 2005 and 2006. Structured questionnaires were administered to farmers in the four communities. A total of 38 plant species belonging to 24 plant families were identified as multipurpose browse species. A greater number of the plant species are used for fuel wood (22 species), for fruits and leaves as vegetables (20 species) and for human and veterinary medicine (16 species). Twenty seven species of these browse plants from 2 communities were subjected to nutritional evaluation of their ash and crude fibre contents. The percentage crude fibre content of Icancina trichantha (73. 8%) was highest compared with the other browse species. Browse species from Edemani community gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher crude fibre contents than those from Obukpa community. Elaeis guineensis had significantly (P < 0.05) the highest ash content (23.5%). Plants from Edemani had higher ash content (11.4%) than those from Obukpa community (8.1%). Location and species interaction significantly (P < 0.05) affected the ash contents of the browse plants. A total of 6 plants were identified as multipurpose grass species. A greater number of the grass species are used for soil fertility enrichment (4 species), for lighting (2 species) and as roofing materials (2 species). The most frequently used grass species (with mean usage = 15%) across all sampled communities include: Andropogon gayanus and Anthephora ampulaceae. All the grass species identified are moderately available in the area of study. Keywords: Multipurpose uses, location, forage species.

A study of crop residues and agro-industrial by-products in Makurdi was conducted in June, 2008. Interview schedule was administered to farmers in five communities in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Fourteen (14) crop residues and eleven (11) agro-industrial byproducts were identified. The crop residues were grouped under cereal crop residues (3), root crop residues (5), legume crop residues (3), and fruit crop residues (3). All the sampled respondents kept livestock and depend on the natural pasture as the main source of feed for their animals. The mean stock number per farmer in this study was 14.0 for goats and 10.2 for sheep with the highest numbers being in the Agan community. Crop residues collection in this area is done twice daily. The source of crop residues in the area is generally close to the farmers’ residence being 400 metres away. Most of these crop residues are available and utilized all the year round and are fairly palatable to ruminant animal with a mean score of 2.0. Palatable and very palatable crop residues (with mean scores of 3.0 and 4.0, respectively), constitute 56.0%, while unpalatable materials constitute only 8.0% of all the residues. Most of the crop residues have low levels of anti nutrients and are therefore suitable for livestock feeding.