Proximate Composition of Local Salt Licks (Toka) in Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study investigated the proximate composition of local salt licks (toka) in Adamawa State, Nigeria with a view to reveal the feeding value of the products and use as a substitute to the expensive conventional ones. Six novel mineral blocks from different sources (maize stover, maize comb and sorghum stover ) produced from Mubi-North and Madagali Local Government Areas were used for analysis. The proximate compositions of the samples were analyzed at the Clinical Biochemical Laboratory of Adamawa State University (ADSU) Mubi, Nigeria. Parameters determined include crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash (AS) and moisture content (MC). Local salt licks (toka) had low mean crude protein (CP) of 3.9%, crude fibre (CF) of 0.8%, ether extract (EE) of 1.1%, ash of 0.8% and moisture content of 15.6%. Irrespective of the low nutrient composition of novel mineral licks, they can be used to improve acceptability, palatability and mineral supplementation in livestock feeds. This showed that, with time and good awareness, livestock producers will opt for the products as source of mineral supplements since they are cheaper and readily available in the study area. This could also conveniently substitute the usually imported, highly expensive mineral licks used for livestock production in the state and Nigeria as a whole.