ABSTRACT

The study was carried to investigate the possible relationship between the incidence of frature in the University cattle herd and the mineral content of the forages in the grazing areas. Forages collected reflected what the cattle grazed most preferably duzing the Late diy season and Late rainy season they included; Panicun, maximum, (enirosema pubescens, Axonopus compress us, Paspahim vagina/urn, Cynodon pie/os/a ychu.s Aspi//ia africana, Pennise//um pcthcellaium the collection 1asted for 30 days during each season. The forages were collected from Umudike and Bende with different mineral soil structure. The forages were analysed in the laboratory for Calcium, Phosphorus and Oxalate. Result of the forage analysed showed that there was not much difference in the ratio between Calcium and Phosphorus from the two locations and Oxalate content in them was low to inhibit Calcium absorption. Generally, the ratio between Calcium and Phosphorus was that of low calcium and higher phosphorus. It was concluded that the imbalance of calcium to phosphorus in favour of Phosphorus could be a nutritional deficiency of the forages and seasonal influence on preferred forages consumed could be attiThuted to the cause of fracture in cattle at the University farm (Umudike).