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The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding graded levels of raw Detarium microcarpum seed meals (DSM) at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%, respectively on growth performance, nutrient digestibility values and carcass characteristics. Two hundred and twenty five (225) day-old 'Sayed' broiler chicks were divided into five treatments of forty five birds each and randomly allotted to three replicates of 15 birds each in a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were collected on feed intake (FI), growth rate, feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios, mortality, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics. At 10, 15 and 20% dietary levels of raw DSM, there was depressed FI, daily weight gain, FCR, PER, nutrient digestibility and dressing weight and cut-up parts, respectively. The organ weights of the heart, lungs, kidney and proventricus were similar (p>0.05) across the treatments but had progressive higher values with in increased in the dietary levels of DSM. The liver, pancreas and gizzard were significantly (P<0.05) increased beyond 5 % DSM inclusion. The results of this investigation suggest that raw DSM can be included in broiler ration up to 5 % without any adverse effects on the birds.

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Forty-eight rabbits used to investigate the response of growing rabbits to diets containing differently processed cassava peel meals were divided into four groups balanced for sex and weight. These groups were then assigned at random to the experimental treatments. Four diets were formulated such that the diets contained 200 g/kg of the experimental feedstuffs, sun-dried cassava peel meal (S), ensiled cassava peel meal (E) and retted cassava peel meal (R), and the control did not contain any cassava peels. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentration in the processed cassava peel meal was lower relative to the unprocessed meal. It was, however, lowest in R and highest in E. With the exception of S, fibre fractions were lower in the processed meal compared to the unprocessed meal. The E depressed (p < 0.05) feed and digestible nutrient intakes, weight gain, nutrient digestibility, digestible protein (DP), digestible energy (DE) and DP/DE ratio but increased protein intake to gain and feed to gain ratios compared to other diets. Intake of HCN decreased (p < 0.05) successively in this order: R, S and E. The results indicate that retting and sun-drying are more effective in cassava peel detoxification than ensiling, and dietary HCN concentration and intake of 56 and 4 mg/kg BW, respectively, were not toxic under the conditions of the experiment.

The effects of feeding graded levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of Neem leaf meals (NM) to broiler chicks on live weights, carcass and organ weights and blood constituents was investigated. Two hundred and forty (240) 7 days-old unsex broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were randomly allocated to five treatments of 48 birds each, replicated four times with 12 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad-libitum till 56 days. The results of the live weights and carcass and organ weights decreased with increased NM inclusion in the diets. Haematological constituents were not affected (P>0.05) except the packed cell volume while the serum biochemical indices of birds fed 20 % NM diets were decreased (P<0.05) compared with those fed control, 5 %, 10% and 15% NM diets. Inclusion of 15% NM in broiler chicks' diet had no adverse effects on live, carcass and organ weights and immunity responses. NM needs further treatment to improve inclusion levels beyond 15 % in broilers' diets.