The nutritive value of raw and thermal processed castor oil seed (Ricinus communis) was investigated using the following parameters; proximate composition, gross energy, mineral constituents and ricin content. Three thermal processing methods; toasting, boiling and soaking-and-boiling were used in the processing of the seed as a way of improving its nutritive value. The three methods achieved a drastic reduction in the ricin levels. Toasting, boiling and soaking-and-boiling reduced ricin level by 93.05%, 94.84% and 97.76% respectively. Apart from Iron and potassium the thermal processing methods significantly (P<0.05) reduced the levels of all other measured constituents. Toasting, as a processing method, achieved a higher proximate components (apart from crude protein and crude fibre), gross energy, mineral and ricin content than boiling and soaking-and-boiling methods. However, the higher level of ricin retained and the lower level of crude protein of toasted seed, make it the least preferred among the thermal processing methods, while soaking-and boiling that gave the least level of ricin and high level of crude protein is to be more preferred.

A total of three hundred (300) day old unsexed “Fidan' broiler chicks averagely weighing 100.25 0.44g were used to study the response of broiler birds to diets containing different levels of yellow tigernut meal (TNM) as a replacement for maize. The birds were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments of three replicates each containing 60 and 20 birds respectively. After 28 days, the birds were again randomized based on weights to commence the finisher phase in a completely randomized design. The treatment diets consisted of 0%, 25%, 50% 75% and 100% of TNM as replacement for maize as diets 1 (control) 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The result showed TNM to be low in protein (5.04%), moderate in fibre (13.01%) and high in ether extract (27.46%). Among the antinutritional factors, alkaloids, phytate and tannin were relatively high; 2.63mg/kg, 1.44mg/100g and 1.01mg/100g, respectively. Average weight gain (AWG) and final live weight (FLW) were high for birds fed 25 TNM and significantly (p<0.05) higher than the birds on control at the starter phase. However, at the finisher phase, the values were similar except for birds on 100% TNM that showed significant (p<0.05) depression in AWG and FWG. Feed intake was significantly affected by TNM inclusion levels and tended to improve (p<0.05) significantly as the level of TNM increases in the diets at the starter phase. And at the finisher phase, there was no significant (p>0.05) differences in feed intake across the treatment diets. The feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency showed similar trend both in starter and finisher phases of broiler production, except that at the starter phase, there was poor feed utilization as the level of TNM exceeded 25%, while at the finisher phase, depression only set in at 100% TNM. Feed cost (N/kg) increased as the level of TNM increased in the diets. Among the nutrient utilization only fibre and ether extract were significantly (p<0.05) affected and this occurred only at 100% TNM. The TNM inclusion had no significant effect on the dressing percentage. Of all the carcass parameters measured only gizzard, caeca and abdominal fat showed significant differences, which all tended to increase (p<0.05) significantly as the level of TNM increases in the diets. It was concluded that at starter phase TNM as replacement for maize should not exceed 25% and at finisher phase, it may not exceed 75% for optimal growth performance.

Aims: To evaluate the antioxidant activities of vitamin C and bicarbonate buffers on hormones secretion and serum metabolites of heat-stressed rabbit buck. Methodology: A total of twenty-five (25) Adult rabbit bucks (New Zealand White crosses) of 12 months old were used in this study. The rabbits were randomly allotted into the experimental treatments of five treatment groups with five (5) rabbits per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatment groups consisted of Control, Sodium Bicarbonate (Na2HCO3) and Potassium bicarbonate (KNO3), Vitamin C, and baobab fruit pulp meal (BFPM) as supplements respectively. The experiment lasted for 9 weeks. Temperature humidity of the pen house and thermoregulatory condition of the rabbits were evaluated. Blood samples (5 ml) were collected from the ear vein at 10.00 h from four rabbits chosen randomly from each group of rabbits respectively before and the end of the experiment for serum metabolite, thyroxine and testosterone hormones evaluation. Results: It was found that Vitamin C and BFPM significantly (P<0.05) reduced thermoregulatory parameters and increased hormonal secretions. The pattern of secretion of serum metabolites was not significantly (P<0.05) consistent. Conclusion: It was concluded that Vitamin antioxidants were more effective to ameliorate heat stress than bicarbonate buffers.

The experiment was conducted with the objective of providing more information on the physiology and rumen microbial ecology of goats fed municipal organic solid waste treated with Diastic microbes of snails (Achatina achatina). The study was on the treated and untreated municipal organic solid waste as components of experimental diet. Balanced rations containing diets; A = 45% untreated municipal organic waste (UMOW), B = 45% treated municipal organic waste (TMOW), and C = 70% treated municipal organic waste (TMOW), with wheat offal, palm kernel cake, and molasses used to balance the diets. Where grass/legume ratio of 3 parts of Panicum maximum and 1 part of Centrocema were fed across treatments at the same proportion. The three rations were fed to 18 unsex Red Sokoto goats aged between 6 to 7 months, with an average weight of 8.01±2.50kg. They were housed in pens, on a floor space of 0.5 to 0.75m2 in a completely randomized designed experiment replicated six times and fed for a period of 52 days. The results were separated according to the parameters of rumen physiology (pH, total volatile fatty acids, acetic, propionic, butyric acids and ethanol, and rumen ecology (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi, which are mainly anaerobic microbes). The investigations revealed that microbial (bacteria, protozoa and fungi) load counts were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by dietary treatments. While the total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), acetic, butyric and propionic increased (p<0.05) except for the TVFA and the propionic acid that showed numerical (p>0.05) increased levels of (TMOW). The pH levels improved (p>0.05) between 6.7 to 6.8 where the rumen electrolytes (Ca, Na and K) increased (p<0.01) with increased levels of TMOW. Rumen moisture, dry matter and fat content were (p<0.01) influenced by TMOW diets while ash content was (p<0.01) influenced by the TMOW. Crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and carbohydrate were not affected (p<0.01; p<0.05) affected. It is good to note that, the microbial community of snail used in the pre-feeding fermentation of municipal organic waste had influence in the physiology and rumen microbial ecology at interface with the goat, enhanced improved the organic matter degradation and feed quality, of the highly fibrous municipal organic solid waste.

This study was conducted to evaluate the value of maize offal and cray fish waste meals as the main energy and protein sources respectively in broiler chicken diets. One hundred and twenty day-old Lohmann Brown broiler chicks were randomly allotted into two treatment groups of three replicates of 60 and 20 birds, respectively. Maize offal and crayfish waste meals were used to replace maize and soybean/fishmeal, respectively in the control diet (T1 ) to form (T2 ). Growth parameters monitored were final live weight, daily weight gain, feed 2 conversion ratio, internal and external body linear measurements were evaluated were statistically analysed using the studentized t-test at 5% and 1% probability. Results showed significantly (P<0.05) higher values in all the parameters apart from feed intake for birds on the control diet. The final live weight of birds on the test diet (T2 ) only reached that of the control at 10 weeks of age. The phenotypic correlation of body weight and linear body measurements for birds on both the control and test treatment diets were high and positively significant (P<0.01). However, birds on the control diet had the longest body parts than those of the test diet, likewise the internal body parts. When expressed based on percentage body weight, birds on the test diet tended to have longer external and internal body parts. It is concluded that if maize offal and crayfish waste are to be used as total replacement for maize, soybean and fishmeal, the period of broiler production should be extended from 8 weeks to 10 weeks for birds to reach market weight and with attendance lower cost of production.