This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of coat characteristics on physiological traits and heat tolerance of dwarf sheep in southern Nigeria. A total number of twenty West African dwarf male sheep with an average weight of 9.00 ± 0.52 kg and aged 10 months old were used for the experiment. The dwarf sheep were assigned to four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with five sheep per treatment group. The compared treatment groups were T A (black coat colour sheep with low coat depth and short hair length), T B (black coat colour sheep with high coat depth and long hair length), T C (light brown coat colour sheep with low coat depth and short hair length) and T D (light brown coat colour sheep with high coat depth and long hair length). The results obtained in the study showed that midday was significantly (P < 0.05) highest in ambient temperature (31.00˚C) and temperature humidity index (28.94), but relative humidity was insignificantly (P > 0.05) affected by morning, midday and evening. Rectal temperature (40.09˚C), respiratory rate (21.01 breaths/min), pulse rate (87.49 beats/min), heat tolerance coefficient (97.10%), haemoglobin (9.04 g/l), blood cell (10.84 × 10 6 /μl), white blood cell (12.06 × 10 6 /μl) and glucose (50.10 mg/dl) were significantly (P < 0.05) highest in T C while packed cell volume (PCV) (30.08%) was best in T D . Significant difference (P > 0.05) did not occur in total protein, albumin and globulin among treatment groups. It is concluded that coat characteristics have significant effects on physiological indices and heat tolerance in Nigeria.

The study was conducted to determine the pattern of organic matter degradability, volatile fatty acid concentration, estimated methane and microbial protein products of napier grass and fruit peels when fermented in the rumen. In vitro method was used to determine the pattern of these end-products. Five experimental samples were randomly assigned to five treatments with one sample per treatment in a completely randomized design. The compared experimental samples were napier grass (NG), orange peel (OP), pawpaw peel (PPL), mango peel (MP) and plantain peel (PP). Results obtained showed that parameters observed under in vitro gas production characteristics, organic matter degradation, volatile fatty acids concentration, estimated methane and microbial protein products were significantly (P<0.05) affected with the exception of intercept (a) and gas production rate constant for the insoluble fraction (b) (P<0.05). The incubation time (t 1 / 2) (18.00hr), acetate (74.42%) and methane (38.00mmol) were significantly (P<0.05) highest for NG. Gas production from the insoluble but degradable fraction (58.98ml), potential gas production (62.00ml) and propionate (13.42%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for PPL whereas organic matter degraded (42.01mg), volatile fatty acid concentration (72.75 mmol/litre), butyrate (10.20%) and microbial protein (2393g) were better for MP. It was concluded that MP and PP have the potentials to improve rumen fermentation efficiency and reduce methane gas.

This work was carried out in collaboration between the two authors. Author MIO designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Author IK managed the analyses of the study and managed the literature searches. The two authors read and approved the final manuscript.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of garlic oil supplementation on intake, digestibility, performance and rumen function of goats. Thirty goats with initial average body weight of 6 ± 0.99 kg were randomly divided into five treatments with six goats each in a completely randomized design. The diets contained a control group without garlic oil (CA1) and diets supplemented with garlic oil at 20 g (GB2), 25 g (GC3), 30 g (GD4) and 35 g (GE5). Results showed that acid detergent fibre and lignin (66.02 and 52.37%) digestibility, total volatile fatty acid with acetate (88.62 mM and 69.68mol/100mol), feed conversion ratio (9.47), ammonia nitrogen (12.39mg/dl), methane (21.96mol/mol) and protozoa (8.93 x 108 cfµ/mol) of goats reared on CA1 were (P < 0.05) higher than those on test diets (GB2, GC3, GD4 and GE5). Goats fed on GC3 and GD4 diets had higher (P < 0.05) nutrients digestibility with rumen parameters, daily weight gain and intake compared with those on CA1, CB2 and GE5 diets. The ether extract intake (58.09%) and digestibility (64.03%) in goats reared on GE5 were (P < 0.05) higher than those on other diets. Ash intake and digestibility, rumen pH, iso-butyrate, valerate, iso-valerate and total fungi count were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by treatment diets. In conclusion, the supplementation of garlic oil to treatment diets improved intake, digestibility, performance and rumen function of goats, indicating garlic oil as alternative additive to improve poor quality feeds.

The study was conducted to determine the influence of ginger powder and lime peel on manipulation of rumen function for live-weight gains of sheep. Twenty four West African dwarf sheep of about 8 – 9 months old with average weight of 7.00 ± 0.95kg were randomly assigned to four treatment diets in a completely randomized design. The prepared diets contained; ED1 (0% ginger powder and 0% lime peel powder that served as control group), ED2 (0% ginger powder and 3% lime peel), ED3 (1.5% ginger powder and 1.5% lime peel) and ED4 (3% ginger powder and 0% lime peel). In all the diets examined, ED1 showed higher significant (p<0.05) values in total fungi, Acetobact xylinum, Methanogens, total protozoa, Entodiniomorphs, Holotrichs, ammonia-nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids, acetate, butyrate and feed conversion ratio. However, total bacteria, Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus fibrisolvens, Bacillus spp, propionate, feed intake, nutrient digestibility, final and daily weight gains indicated significant (p<0.05) higher values in diet ED3 than diets ED1, ED2 and ED4. Rumen pH was significantly (p<0.05) higher in ED4 as compared with other diets. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in Fibrobacter succinogens, iso-butyrate, valerate, iso-valerate and initial weight among diets. It can be concluded that using 1.5% ginger powder and 1.5% lime peel in the diets enhanced rumen fermentation and ecology for growth performance of sheep.

The study was carried out to assess the performance characteristics and blood profile of growing rams fed mixture of bamboo leaves and neem seed cake. Eighteen West African dwarf rams with an average weight of 8.00± 0.20kg and aged between 8 - 9 months were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments with six animals per treatment group in a completely randomized design. The diets compared were TD1(70% Guinea grass with 30% concentrate diet which was the control group), TD2 (mixture of 50% bamboo leaves with 20% neem seed cake and 30% concentrate diet) and TD3(combination of 45% bamboo leaves with 25% neem seed cake and 30% concentrate diet). The results obtained indicated that average total feed intake (11.13kg), average daily feed intake (132.50g), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (33.35g/dL), glucose (59.01mg/dL), cholesterol (42.89mg/dL), creatinine (1.01mg/dL) and urea (13.73mg/dL) were significantly (P<0.05) better with animals on TD1 Animals on TD2had the highest values in terms of finial body weight (11.33kg), average total weight gain (3.27kg), average daily weight gain (38.93g), total digestible nutrient (68.97%), packed cell volume (30.06%), haemoglobin (10.68g/dl), red blood cell (9.42 x 106ml), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (11.70Pg), total protein (8.09g/dL), albumin (3.03g/dL), and globulin (5.06g/dL). Feed conversion ratio (4.27), mean corpuscular volume (30.95fl) and white blood cell (2.56 x 103/mL) were significantly highest for animals on TD3 No significant (P>0.05) difference existed between the experimental rams with regards to initial body weight, lymphocyte, neutrophile. It was concluded that combination of 50% bamboo leaves with 20% of neem seed cake and 30% concentrate diet improved performance, haematological and serum biochemical indices for growing rams.

The study was conducted to determine the replacement value of cassava peels and rice husk combination for guinea grass, using nutrient digestibility, energy utilization and in vitro gas production characteristics by West African Dwarf Sheep. Fifteen (15) growing WAD Sheep with an average weight of 9.00 ± 0.01kg and aged between 9 and 10 months old were randomly assigned to three (3) dietary treatments with five (5) animals per treatment in a completely randomized design. The compared diets were A (guinea grass), B (cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 60:10) and C (cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 55:15). The results showed that parameters observed under digestibility, energy and in vitro gas production characteristics were significantly affected (P<0.05) with the exception of dry matter digestibility, gas produced from the soluble fraction (a), gas production rate constant (c)and incubation time(t 1 / 2 ) (P>0.05). CP (74.37%) , EE (62.49%), CF (47.08%), ash (70.89%), NDF (48.62%), ADF (49.68%), ADL (54.83%) digestibility, GE intake (2229.74kcal/g/day), DE (95.45kcal/g/day), CH 4 (13ml), ME (8.31MJ/kg/DM), OMD (56.10%) and SCFA (0.09μM) were significantly (P<0.05) better for diet A. Gas production from the insoluble fraction (38.75ml) and potential gas production (41.00ml) were highest in diet B, whereas NFE digestibility (79.38%), total energy output (197.21kcal/g/day) and metabolizable energy BW 0.75 (15.11kcal/g/day) were higher for diet C. It is concluded that cassava peels with rice husk in a ratio of 60:10 has a potential to replace guinea grass in the diet of WAD sheep.

This study was conducted to determine performance, carcass traits and meat quality evaluation of sheep fed napier grass and different proportion of cocoa pod husk and soursop pulp meals. Eighteen (18) West African Dwarf rams, aged between 7 and 8 months old with mean weight of 7.00 ± 0.55kg were allotted to three dietary treatments with two replicates of three sheep per treatment in a completely randomized design. The compared treatment diets were; T A (70% napier grass and 30% concentrate diet), T B (45% cocoa pod husk with 25% soursop pulp and 30% concentrate diet) and T C (50% cocoa pod husk with 20% soursop pulp and 30% concentrate diet). The experimental diets were given to the sheep at 6% of their body weight and the experiment lasted for 84days after 14days of adjustment period. The results showed that average daily feed intake (221.79g), nitrogen intake (18.02g/day), total nitrogen loss (5.08g/day) and chilling losses (12.85%) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in diet T A compared with diets T B and T C . Treatment diet T C was significantly (P < 0.05) better ISSN 2166-0379 2017 http://jas.macrothink.org 75 in total body weight gain (3.66kg), average daily weight gain (43.57g), total digestible nutrient (74.69%), nitrogen retention (77.58%, slaughter weight (11.02kg), hot carcass weight (5.68kg), cold carcass yields (5.23kg), hot with cold carcass yields (51.54 and 47.46%), appearance (6.81), tenderness (6.20) and overall acceptability (6.85) than other treatment diets. Initial body weight, flavor and juiciness were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the treatment diets. It was concluded that 50% cocoa pod husk with 20% soursop pulp and 30% concentrate diet has the potential to enhance performance, carcass traits and meat quality evaluation in sheep. Journal of Agricultural Studies