Effect of Canopy Shade on the Agronomic and in-vitro Performance of Chloris gayana (Kunth).

Chloris gayana was established under shade and in the open and the effect of shade on the agronomic and in-vitro performance of the grass were examined. Harvesting of the grass was carried out at twelve weeks and the weight of the biomass yield was observed to be higher under the sunlight with 895.0g and least in the shade with 48.70g. The harvested grass was analyzed for Chemical and Mineral Compositions. Soil sample was also analyzed for its organic matter (O.M), Organic Composition (O.C), Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Nitrogen and PH.  Results show that CP, CF, EE, and ASH ranges from 7.89 – 11.12, 20.25- 23.81, 2.33- 10.66 and 10.76-11.37 under full sunlight and shade respectively. It is concluded that grasses can be planted under trees because they are capable of fixing Nitrogen to the soil thereby improving the forage quality and also provide shady haven for livestock during high ambient temperature when grasses are to be grazed by animals. The in vitro gas production characteristics were not significantly (P>0.05) different under sunlight and shade the highest value was obtained from T1 (3.00) and lowest for T4 (1.00). ME and OMD show significant difference between T1, T2, T3 and T4 while SCFA for T1 and T2 were significantly different. However, T3 and T4 were not significantly (P>0.05) different from each other. The in-vitro gas production chart has the highest volume of gas produced in T1 at 24hr period of incubation. Keywords: Canopy shade, Ruminant, In-vitro gas production, Chloris gayana

Milk Yield and Composition of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Varying Levels of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Pulp and Seed Meal

The milk yield and mineral composition of Red Sokoto goats fed varying levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) pulp and seed meal was investigated over a period of 84 days. Sixteen (16) lactating Red Sokoto goats averaging 19.75 + 1.26 kg body weight were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four animals per replicate in a completely randomized design to determine the quantity and quality of milk produced. Treatment 1 was control with no baobab pulp and seed supplement, Treatments 2, 3 and 4 had 10%, 20% and 30% baobab pulp and seed inclusion respectively. The milk yield and mineral composition were significantly affected (P<0.05). Milk yield progressively increased for all treatments to week four where the peak was recorded for the yield with 20% baobab pulp and seed inclusion levels having a clear significant value of 720.20g, followed by 30%, 10% above the control with varying values of 700.75g, 690.80 and 560.33g respectively. The milk yield recorded a decreased values of 475.00g, 455.67, 454.75 and 360.50 for 20%, 10%, 30% and 0% inclusion levels at the end of 12th week. There were significant difference (P<0.05) in the values of Total solids, Fat and lactose. For milk composition; 30% inclusion level recorded the highest values for Total solids, fat and lactose at figures of 17.38%, 5.78% and 6.64% respectively. The fat content of the milk in the study were at the increasing range of 3.0 %, 4.05%, 4.60% and 5.78% respectively for inclusion levels of 0 – 30% baobab pulp and seed in the experimental diets. Milk produced by the experimental animals on 20% and 30% levels of inclusion recorded the overall best results in term of mineral composition. The results of the study had shown that inclusion of baobab at 20 % in the diet of Red Sokoto goats gave the highest milk yield . Inclusion at 30% level also gave better results in term of mineral composition. Keywords: baobab pulp and seed, red sokoto goat, milk yield and mineral composition.

Haematological and Serum Characteristics of Broiler Birds Fed Diets Supplemented with Varying Levels of Selenium Powder

The haematology and serum components of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with selenium powder was investigated. A total of one hundred and fifty day old broilers were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments with ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was control with no Selenium supplementation, Treatments 2 and 3 had 0.3mg/kg 0.5mg/kg Selenium supplementation respectively.  Birds were vaccinated as schedule and acclimatized to rearing and feeding regime before data collection commenced. Result indicated differences (P<0.05) in the final bodyweight and total weight gain of the experimental birds. Feed  conversion ratio of birds on high selenium (0.5mg) was superior that its counterparts in control and 0.3mg supplementation. The heamatological and serum characteristics were not significantly affected (P<0.05) across the treatments except the differential count of the blood. The activity of the blood enzymes measured increase with selenium supplementation whereas the cholesterol level fall significantly in birds fed selenium supplemented diets. The study showed that all the dietary inclusion satisfactory as feed for broiler chicken without any deleterious effect on performance and blood profile.  Inclusion level of 0.5mm/kg of selenium appeared to have better overall performance when fed to broiler chicken. Keywords: selenium, broilers, haematology, seru

Milk Yield and Composition of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Varying Levels of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Fruit Meal Supplement in the Diet

The milk yield and mineral composition of Red Sokoto goats fed varying levels of baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruit meal supplement was investigated over a period of 84 days. Twenty four (24) lactating Red Sokoto goats averaging 19.75 + 1.26 kg body weight were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with six animals per replicate in a completely randomized design to determine the quantity and quality of milk produced. Treatment 1 was control with no baobab pulp and seed supplement, Treatments 2, 3 and 4 had 10%, 20% and 30% baobab pulp and seed inclusion respectively. The milk yield and mineral composition were significantly affected (P<0.05). Milk yield progressively increased for all treatments to week four where the peak was recorded for the yield with 20% baobab fruit inclusion levels having a clear significant value of 5043.50g, followed by 30%, 10% above the control with varying values of 4905.25g, 4835.60g and 3922.31g respectively. The milk yield recorded a decreased values of 3325.00g, 3189.69g, 3183.25g and 2523.50g for 20%, 10%, 30% and 0% inclusion levels at the end of 12th week. There were significant difference (P<0.05) in the values of Total solids, Fat and lactose. For milk composition; 30% inclusion level recorded the highest values for Total solids, fat and lactose at figures of 17.38%, 5.78%  and 6.64% respectively. The fat content of the milk in the study were at the increasing range of 3.0 %, 4.05%, 4.60% and 5.78% respectively for inclusion levels of 0% – 30% baobab fruit in the experimental diets. Milk produced by the experimental animals on 20% and 30% levels of inclusion recorded the overall best results in term of mineral composition.  The results of the study had shown that inclusion of baobab fruit at 20 % in the diet of Red Sokoto goats gave the highest milk yield  . Inclusion at 30% level also gave better results in term of mineral composition. Keywords: baobab pulp and seed, red sokoto goat, milk yield and mineral composition

Heamatology and Serum Quality of Red Sokoto Goats Fed Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Meal Supplement

The haematology and serum components of Red Sokoto goats fed baobab fruit meal  was investigated. A total of 16 animals were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with four animal per replicate in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 was control with no baobab fruit meal supplement, Treatments 2 , 3 and 4 had 10%, 20% and 30%  respectively. The heamatological and serum characteristics were significantly affected (P<0.05) across the treatments with Treatment 3 (20% inclusion) having the highest PCV (%), Hb (g/dl) and RBC (X 109/l) respectively. The serum quality of T3 and T4 were not significantly different but albumin and iron levels were higher in T3 . However, the cholesterol level fluctuates along the treatment with control having the highest cholesterol level of 67.25 ± 2.0ab while T3 had the least value of 60.95 ± 5.1b. The study showed that all the dietary inclusion are satisfactory as feed for small ruminant without any deleterious effect on performance and blood profile.  Inclusion level of 20% baobab appeared to have better overall performance when fed to red sokoto goat. Keywords: baobab fruit meal, red sokoto goats, haematology, seru

Nutritional Evaluation of Adansonia digitata (Baobab Fruit) as a replacement for maize in the diet of Broiler Chickens

Feeding trial was carried out to investigate the nutritional value of Adansonia digitata (Baobab seed and fruit pulp) as feed resource using one hundred and fifty (150) day old broiler chicks. Maize meal was replaced with Baobab meal at 0, 20,  30, 40 and 50% replacement levels. The birds were equally and randomly allotted to the diets while water and other management practices were  carried out  accordingly. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were monitored while feed conversion ratio was estimated. At  the end of 8 weeks, feacal and blood samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient digestibility and haematological parameters respectively. Birds fed 40% replacement level had best feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and least feed cost per body weight gain compared to other treatments control inclusive. Nutrient digestibility of the experimental  birds was significantly (P<0.05) affected. The parameters measured increased as the inclusion level increased. The RBC, WBC, Hb and PCV were not significantly influenced (p>0.05) by level of BM while lymphocyte, monocyte and eosiniphil were  significantly affected. It could be concluded that Baobab meal can be used up to 40% as a replacement for maize in the diets of broiler chickens without adverse effect on performance and health status of the birds. therefore be  recommended that the test ingredient can be used to replace maize up to 40% without adverse effect on performance of the birds.Keywords: Adansonia digitata, Broiler, Performance, Digestibility, Haematolog

Performance of crossbred weaner rabbits fed diets formulated from mixtures of legume and grass

Twenty four (24) crossbred weaner rabbits aged between 5-6 weeks with an initial weight ranging between 587.8g and 658.8g were used to investigate the performance and nutrient digestibility of rabbits fed diets containing mixture of grasses and legume. Three experimental diets were formulated, Diet T1 was the control fed concentrate feed without forage, Diet T2 contained a mixture of Gliricidia sepium and Panicum maximum while Diet T3 contained Gliricidia sepium and Brachiaria brizantha, mainly in substitution for the maize of the control diet. The animals were randomly distributed into three treatment groups of 8 rabbits each with each serving as a replicate in a completely randomised design experiment. The experiment lasted for eight weeks. The type of forage used in this study did not have effect on the nutrient intake of the rabbits and except the dry matter and ash digestibilities, other nutrients were not affected by the dietary treatments. It was observed that final weight, weight gain and daily feed intake are not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the experimental diets. The highest final weight (1193g) was observed in T3 though similar to T2 (1111.20) and the lowest final weight (1036.20g) was observed in T1 (containing no forage). Average daily weight gain followed the same trend with 9.54g, 9.35g and 7.6g in recorded for T3, T2 and T1 respectively. The best feed efficiency was observed for T3 (8.41). It can be concluded that incorporation of legume/ grass mixtures, as substitutes for maize in rabbit diets will give better results when compared with diet without forages.Keywords: legume/grass mixtures, Concentrate, weaner rabbits, feed efficiency, nutrient digestibilit