This article provides basic knowledge of ruminant animals and the significant role they play in the Nigerian livestock sector. Common terminologies used to describe cattle, sheep, and goats will be defined to give a clearer understanding of the content.

Definition of Ruminant Animals

Ruminant animals are those that possess a four-compartment stomach, namely the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. They have the ability to ruminate or chew cud.

Difference Between Ruminants and other Animals

Ruminant animals have evolved specialized digestive systems to help them survive on coarse herbage. Most carbohydrates stored in plants are in forms indigestible by monogastric animals (simple stomach animals). This is due to the presence of B-links that join cellulose together.

However, ruminants host microorganisms (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) in their rumen and reticulum that can break down these B-links to release energy in the form of volatile fatty acids (VFAs).

This symbiotic relationship benefits both the microbes and the ruminants, as the microbes gain a stable environment and nourishment, while the ruminants benefit from the waste products of the microbes, including pre-digested food and microbial biomass as an additional nutrient source.

The four-chambered stomach provides extra space, acting as a series of vats that store food and allow fermentation by the microorganisms. Examples of ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, and buffalo. For the purpose of this article, the focus will be on cattle, sheep, and goats.

Role of Ruminant Animals in Nigerian Agriculture

Ruminant animals play a crucial role in Nigerian agriculture, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and food security. These animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, and camels, are essential sources of meat, milk, hides, and wool.

They are particularly important in rural areas, where they provide livelihoods for millions of farmers. Ruminants also contribute to sustainable farming practices by helping with land fertilization and pasture management, which enhances soil fertility.

With Nigeria’s large population and growing demand for animal products, ruminants remain a key component of the agricultural sector, supporting both subsistence and commercial farming. Some of the role of ruminant animals in Nigerian agriculture include;

1. Sources of Meat of The 51 Million Heards of Different Classes of Ruminant Animals: Contribute about 85% of the total national meat supply, while in Africa sheep and goat contribute about 14% of the total meat supply. In Nigeria the contribution of small ruminants (sheep and goats to the nations meat supply is much higher than this representing about 35% of the nation meat supply.

2. Sources of Milk: It is estimated that there are about 220 million diary cows in the world producing about 430 million tones of milk per year. Africa is said to produce about 10-30% of this amount, out of this amount 14% comes from sheep and goat. In some African countries sheep and goat milk is a major source of milk supply for consumption.

3. Hide and Skin: Apart from food supply, ruminants also provide hides and skin. Leather from ruminants in the past was a major source of foreign exchange. The famous Moroccan leather is obtained from the skin of red Sokoto goat.

Developing countries in Africa like Nigeria are not major producers of wool or hair. Africa produces about 37,000 tones of greasy wool per year. This represents only about 1% of world population. Sheep skin are used for clothing in the highland area of Ethiopia and Nigeria.

4. Draught Power: Cattle is a very important source of farm power in Nigeria and in different part of the world. This is accessible to peasant farmers who can’t afford mechanized farm power.

It has greatly reduced dependence on mechanized farm power which is very costly. It has enhanced the volume of crop production in the area of use. Bullocks are the preferred type. Cattle are also use locally for transport.

5. Manure: Ruminants are well as other animals soil fertility. Farm manure which consists of animal faecal materials in used to fertilize farm lands. Manure from tethered sheep and goats is collected and spread in crop fields as fertilizer.

6. Social Functions: Ruminants are a source of prestige to farmers. It represents the position of the owner and the family in the society.

Ruminant animals are seen as a measure of status of the owner in the society as mobile banks by nomads as insurance against crop failure by mixed farmers and as items of religious worship and marriages by various groups of traditionalists.

Common Terms Used In Ruminants Animal Production

In ruminant animal production, there are several key terms used to describe processes, parts of the animal, and management practices. Understanding these terms is crucial for efficient farm management and optimal animal care. Some of the terms are;

1. Cattle

i. Bull: A matured male bovine (cattle or buffalo)

ii. Cow: A matured female bovine that has given birth at least once

iii. Calf: Young cattle or buffalo of either sex

iv. Heifer: A young female cattle that is yet to give birth. It is closer to maturing than a female calf.

v. Steer: A young male cattle that has been castrated before maturity.

vi. Stag/Bullock: A male cattle that is castrated after maturity.

vii. Veal: Meat from young cattle that has not been exposed to any other food except cow milk.

viii. Beef: Meat from cattle

ix. Parturition: The act of giving birth (calving)

x. Hide: The skin of bovine animals

2. Sheep

i. Ewe: Female sheep which has lambed

ii. Ram: Adult male sheep, usually used for breeding

iii. Lamb: Young sheep usually under 9 months or before weaning

iv. Cull: Ewe that is removed from the breeding flock because it is old, unproductive, or unwanted

v. Maiden Ewe: Adult female sheep that has not been mated

vi. Gimmer: Female sheep aged 6 months (or from weaning) to the first lambing

vii. Ewe Lamb: Female lamb

viii. Ram Lamb: Male lamb

ix. Hogg, Hogget: Sheep aged 6 months to 2 years

x. Wether: Castrated male sheep, older than 6 months

xi. Mutton: Meat from matured sheep

3. Goat

i. Buck: A matured male goat

ii. Doe: A matured female goat

iii. Chevon: Meat from goat

iv. Kidding: Act of giving birth

v. Mohair: Hair obtained from a breed of goat

vi. Cashmere: Fine sort hair obtained from cashmere goat

Digestion in Ruminant Animals

Digestion is the process by which complex materials in food are broken down into small fragments that can be absorbed and used by the animal. The gastrointestinal tract acts as a tube running from the mouth to the anus, with chambers that aid in digestion. The walls of the tube play an essential role in absorption.

There are two types of digestion in ruminants:

Microbial Digestion (Digestion in the Fore-Gut)

Microbial digestion occurs in the fore-gut, which includes the rumen, reticulum, and omasum. These chambers account for about 70% of the volume of the gastrointestinal tract. Food from the esophagus enters the rumen, where foreign objects such as stones and nails are often collected.

This article provides a general introduction to ruminant animals and their crucial role in the Nigerian livestock industry. These animals contribute significantly to meat, milk, hide, farm power, and manure, while also holding social and economic importance.

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