Seasonal availability and physical and chemical characteristics of four major browse plants used for stall-feeding of livestock in Eastern Nigeria

Four major browse species were studied with respect to their time of availability throughout the year and some aspects of their physical and chemical characteristics. Elaeis guineensis and Ficus elasticoides were available at all times of the year for stock feeding. For the physical milling characteristics studied, the browse species compared well with those of the legume species included in the study or were intermediate between those of the legumes and grasses. The nutrient composition indicated that the browse species could be a good source of livestock feed, especially during the dry season when grass from the natural grassland is scarce.Key words: Nutrient composition, milling characteristics, livestock, browse species

Bioeconomics of feeding raw or heat treated soyabeans to broilers

No Abstract

Performance of growing pigs of different genetic groups fed varying dietary protein levels

Two feeding experiments were conducted, using a 2 x 2 factorial design, to determine the performance of two genetic groups of pigs fed two protein levels in each case. Each experiment was replicated threetimes. In the first experiment, 24 pigs, 12 each of indigenous Nigerian pigs (LC) and Large White x Indigenous cross-breeds (LW x LC) with average initial weights of 7.3 and 10.2 kg, respectively, were fed isocaloric (3.1 Mcal of ME/Kg) diets containing 12 or 16% crude protein for seven weeks. In the second experiment, 12 Large White (LW) pigs and 12 LW x LC pigs with average initial weights of 12.5 and 11.8 Kg, respectively, were fed isocaloric (3.1 Mcal of ME/Kg) diets containing 14 or 18% crude protein for seven weeks. Overall, the LC pigs performed better than the LW x LC pigs on the lower (12%) protein diet while the LW x LC pigs performed better than the LC pigs on the 16% protein diet. In experiment 2, the LW x LC pigs performed better than the LW pigs on the lower (14%) protein diet while the LW pigs performed better than the LW x LC pigs on the 18% protein diet

Sperm Production Rate, Gonadal and Extragonadal Sperm Reserves of West African Dwarf Rams in the Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria

Five healthy West African Dwarf (WAD) rams, 1.5 to 2.5 years of age and weighing between 15 kg to 20 kg were used to determine daily sperm production, gonadal and exragonadal sperm reserves. Gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves were estimated by the haemocytometric method, while the daily sperm production was estimated from the gonadal sperm reserves. Daily sperm production x109 and daily sperm production per gram testis x 107 were 0.60 ± 0.01 and 0.94 ± 0.02 respectively. Mean gonadal sperm reserves x 109 was 2.15 ± 0.11; mean caput, corpus, cauda and ductus deferens reserves x108 were 1.79 ± 0.13, 0.75 ± 0.10, 3.77 ± 0.24 and 0.22 ± 0.06, respectively. The gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves and daily sperm production values obtained in this study were lower than those reported for exotic breeds. High correlations were found between testis weight and daily sperm production (r = 0.81; P < 0.05), testis and testicular sperm reserves (r = 80; P < 0.05), caput weight and caput sperm reserves (r = 0.66; P < 0.05) corpus weight and corpus sperm reserves ( r = 0.54; P < 0.05), cauda weight and cauda sperm reserves ( r = 57; P < 0.05). This study has identified several important relationships among testicular characteristics and epididymal reserves that may be of value in improving breeding soundness examination of WAD rams

Effect of replacement of rice offal with graded levels of melon (Citrullus Vulgaris) seed offal on performance of growing rabbits

The feeding value of melon (Citrulus vulgaris) seed offal (MSO) was determined in a 12-week feeding trial using 25 six weeks old male rabbits with an average initial weight of 485g. The animals were fed diets containing 0,7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% MSO in a completely randomized design (CRD). Digestibility trial and economic benefits of using the test material were carried out. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and differences between means were also determine. Results obtained showed no significant (P>0.05) treatment effects ondaily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The cost of feeding diets 1 and 2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher(N152.34 and N157.20) than for diets 4 and 5 (N143.53 and N135.56). The cost generally decreased from N152.34- N135.56 with increase in the level of MSO in the diets. The digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by increase in the levels of MSO in the diets. DM and CP digestibilities were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15 and 30% MSO levels when compared with the control and other MSO levels. MSO inclusion in the diets significantly (P<0.05) improved EE digestibility above that of control diet but EE digestibility did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) among diets containing MSO. Crude fibre (CF) and Nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibilities were similar (P>0.05) for all the diets. It can be concluded that MSO could be used up to 100% replacement for RO in rabbit diets. Keywords: rice offal, melon seed offal, performance, growing rabbits

Genital tract morphometry and haematology of male rabbits fed graded levels of cassava leaf meal

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding graded levels of cassava leaf meal (CLM) on genital tract morphometry and haematology of twenty 8-week old male rabbits weighing between 815 to 910g. The rabbits were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments viz: T (control), T , T and T with CLM inclusion levels of 0%, 9%, 18%, and 1 2 3 4 27%, respectively after balancing for liveweight. Each rabbit was individually caged and served as a replicate in a completely randomized design. The feeding trial lasted for sixteen (16) weeks. Three (3) rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and evaluated for genital tract morphometry and haematological characteristics. The results showed that CLM had no significant effect (P>0.05) on testes, corpus, cauda, ductus and tunic weights. Positive relationships were observed between CLM in the diets and testes weight (r = 0.42; P<0.05) as well as cauda weights (r = 0.96; P<0.01). No significant effect (P>0.05) of diets were observed on packed cell volume, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes basophils and eosinophils. However negative relationships between levels of inclusion of CLM in diets and red blood cell, packed cell volume and haemoglobin were observed. It was concluded that the inclusion of up to 27% of CLM in bucks' diets is not detrimental to good health and normal reproductive tract development. It is recommended that further studies on the feeding potentials of cassava leaf meal at higher levels of inclusion and actual reproductive performance be investigated.Keywords: Cassava leaf, rabbit, dietary treatments, reproductive tract, morphometry,haematological characteristic