Evaluation of forage legume Lablab purpureus as a supplement for lactating Bunaji cows

The effects of forage legume lablab (Lablab purpureus) as a supplement for Bunaji cows was investigated both on-station and on-farm. The results of the on-farm trial involving five herds in each of two villages (control and supplemented) showed that supplementation with 3 kg of lablab increased milk off-take significantly (P<0.001) (1.27±0.09 vs. 0.71±0.1 kg per cow/day for supplemented and non-supplemented cows, respectively). Cows in the supplemented group showed a higher gain in body weight compared to non-supplemented animals (411±1.4 vs. 127±1.8 g/day respectively). They also showed a higher (P<0.001) body condition score than those in the non-supplemented group (3.5-4.5 vs. 2.0-3.5). Overall mean weight gain for calves was however, similar for both supplemented and non-supplemented groups (428±5.3 vs. 428±1.5 g/day). Supplementation of suckling Bunaji cows with lablab improved the performance of the animals and the income of the farmers

Yield and Composition of Milk and Their Relationship with Preweaning Lamb Growth in Yankasa Ewes and their Crosses with Sires of Suffolk X Wenselydale Breed

Milk production in Yankasa ewes and their crosses with sires of Suffolk/Wenselydale breed was measured at weekly intervals following oxytocin administration. The influence of age and breed of dam on yield and composition were investigated and the relationships between milk yield, milk composition and lamb weight gain were determined. Daily milk production in Yankasa and crossbred ewes averaged 348.1 and 505.7g respectively. The mean fat and protein content over the entire lactation were 5.86 and 5.07% for Yankasa and 6.19 and 4.96% for crossbreds, respectively. Crossbred ewes produced significantly bigher (P&lt;0.01) milk than Yankasa at all stages of lactation. Age of tbe ewe had Significant effect (P &lt; .05) on total milk yield but not on fat or protein content. The correlations between lamb weight gain and milk yield at various stages of lactation ranged from 0.51 to 0.66 and 0.62 to 0.71, respectively, for Yankasa and crossbred lambs. Sheep milking can make a significant contribution to rural dally production in Nigeria.Keywords: Milk Yield, Milk Composition, Lamb Growth, Yanicasa, Suffolk X Wenselydale Crosse

Factors affecting birth weight and growth rate in Friesian X Bunaji calves

Calving records from 1984 - 1989 were studied to determine the influence of rearing method, sex of calf,  season of birth, dam breed and year· of birth on body weight at birth, 3, 6 and 12 montl1s of age in Friesian x Bunaji calves. The mean weights of calves at birth, 3, 6 and 12 months of age were 22.0, 68.2, 96.7 and 137.4 kg, respectively. Sex of calf had a significant effect, with male calves being heavier than the females by 1.2, 5.9 and 9.7 kg at birth, 3 and 6 months of age respectively. The effect of season of birth on calf body weights was not significant except at 6 months of age, when calves horn during the wet season were heavier (P&lt;0.01) than those born . in the hnrmattan period by 9.5 kg. Year of birth had a highly significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on culf weights from birth to yearling. Method of rearing and dam breed had no significant influence on all the weights. The results suggest the need to develop correction factors for standardisation of weight records when comparing dams on the basis of body weights of their calves.Key words: Birth weight; Growth rate; Friesian-Bunaji; Calves

Effects of varying levels of dietary palm oil in concentrate rations on dry matter intake, nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention in Red Sokoto goats

Twenty Red Sokoto bucks (average liveweight of 21.4±3.2 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of varying levels of palm oil (PO) in concentraterations on nutrients digestibility and nitrogen retention. Five iso-nitrogenous concentrate supplements (CP 160 g/kg concentrate) compounded with 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 g palm oil/kg of concentrate, were used to supplement a basal diet of wooly finger grass (Digitaria smutsii, Stent) hay. The five supplements were designated as treatments 0-PO (control), 40-PO, 80-PO, 120-PO and 160- PO. The bucks were each fed 536 g/d of hay, and 343 g/d of concentrate to give a ratio of 60:40 hay to concentrate. Results showed that inclusion of PO in the concentrate rations did not affect (P&gt;0.05) total dry matter intake of the goats but intake values declined slightly with further increase in levels of PO beyond 40 g/kg concentrate. No adverse effects on total tract digestibility of nutrients were observed. Nitrogen retention of the goats was positive and not affected (P&gt;0.05) by dietary levels of PO. It was concluded that inclusion of palm oil in the concentrate supplement beyond 40 g/kg level for the Red Sokoto goats marginally depressed total dry matter intake, but had no adverse effects on the total tract digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen retention.Keywords: Goats, Palm oil, Nutrient digestibility, Nitrogen retentio

Effect of experimental infection of haemonchus contortusin lactating red Sokoto and Sahelian goat

No Abstract

Effect of feed restriction and realimentation on nutrient utilization and carcass composition of Zebu bulls

Forty.eight Sokoto Gudali bulls were used to study carcass compositional changes and nutrient efficiency  following feed restriction (25% ad libitum feeding, L., and 54% ad. Iibitum reeding, M) and  realimentation (ad. libitum feeding, H). The treatments were designated as LLH, LMH and LHH according to the level of feeding for each of three periods within each treatment group. Representative bulls were slaughtered at the beginning of the study and at the end of each feeding period. At the end of the mid period, animals on the LLH and LMH feeding regimes had higher percentages of water, similar percentages of protein and ash but lower proportions of fat and energy compared to animals on the LHH feeding regime. Following realimentation in the final period carcass gains contained approximately 21.0, 15.0, 18.5% protein and 22.0, 31.0 and 29.6% fat for LLH, LMH and LHH bulls respectively. The LHH animals were more efficient in utilizing metabo· lizable energy for carcass energy gain than the LLH and LMH animals. Digestible crude protein (DCP) efficience for carcass protein gain averaged 17 .6, 26.2 and 35.4 g DCP/g protein gain for LLH, LMH and LHH bulls respectively. The results suggest that improved efficiency of protein utilization is lagely responsible for compensatory carcass growth in zebu bulls.Key word:· Realimentation, nutrient utilization, carcass composition, zebu bull

Use of tannin containing browse tree/shrubs in the control of intestinal parasites (helminthes) in small ruminants: review

The overall aim of this review was to evaluate the antihelminthics activity of browse forages containing secondary plant factors. Results from literature have shown the benefits of feeding browse foliage in terms of nutrient supply, supplementation supported animal growth and performance. It was found that supplementation with browse leaf meal reduced worm fecundity, also reduces the worm burdens and total fecal egg counts during feeding period. It is concluded that browse foliage can be used to reduce the adverse effects of intestinal parasite infections in ruminant, hence reducing the need for costly antihelminthics drugs and the development of resistance to these drugs.Keywords: Antihelminthics, browse foliage, intestinal parasite, tannin