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Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves are less acceptable by ruminants due to their high contents of anti-nutritional factors. The effect of preserving Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves as hay and silage or silage: hay combinations on the proximate, fibre fractions, anti-nutritional factors, minerals and vitamins compositions were investigated in this study. Six experimental treatments consisting of 100% fresh Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% ensiled Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 100% sun dried Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, 75% silage: 25% hay, 50% silage: 50% hay and 25% silage: 75% hay were formulated. Each treatment was replicated 3 times and analyzed for chemical composition. The crude protein content ranged from 14.70 – 22.05%, which significantly differed (p<0.05) across treatments with the highest value in the fresh leaves. The values for neutral detergent fibre ranged from 56.64 – 57.92 %, acid detergent fibre from 37.14 – 39.87 % and acid detergent lignin from 13.30 – 14.96 %, they all differed significantly (p<0.05) across treatments with highest values in the 100% ensiled treatment. Preservation as silage significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentrations of tannin, phytate and hydrocyanic acid, while preservation as hay significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentration of saponin. The mineral contents of the EC leaves preserved as silage, hay and silage: hay combinations (Treatments 2 - 6) compared favourably with the mineral contents of the fresh leaves (Treatment 1). Preserved EC leaves (Treatments 2 – 6) had significantly (p<0.05) higher concentrations of vitamin C (444.21 –657.60 mg/100g) than the fresh leaves (308.79mg/100g). Thus preservation of E. cyclocarpum leaves as silage or hay improved its chemical composition and reduced its contents of anti-nutritional factors.

A review work was conducted to unveil the potentials of earthworm (EW) and its by earthworm meal (EWM) and earthworm casts (EWC) in poultry nutrition and management of animal waste. Production of EW is called vermiculture and using it to decompose organic matter is vermicomposting while processing it into such product as EWM is known as vermitechnology. Being a hermaphrodite, breeding is simple and fast, requiring only two EW to come toge sexes. Fresh EW could be fed to fish and chickens. Based on literature EWM is high in protein 62 to 65%, essential amino acids such as lysine 6 to 8%, methionine 2 to 5%, leucine 8 to 10%, isoleucine 4 to 6% and phenylalanine 4 to 6%; fat 5 to 8% and fibre< 8%. At dietary inclusion level of 0.2 to 0.6%, EWM reportedly increased feed intake, supported growth, improved carcass quality in broiler chickens, and marginally increased egg size and hen day in layers. Dry EWC could replac for finishing broiler chickens. Rich in macro plant nutrients (e.g. nitrogen 1.94%, calcium 4.4% and potassium 0.7%) EWC is nutritionally sound for growth of pasture crops especially legumes. Earthworm has cellulase, lichenase, chitinase and cellulolytic microorganisms which enable it to degrade organic waste. Cattle dung and other animal manure can be degraded by earthworm thereby reducing environmental pollution. In this era of organic farming and sustainable environment, EW could have a potential place in animal nutrition and management of waste from animals.

The milk yield and compositions of twelve lactating does comprising six each of West African Dwarf (Fouta djallon) and Red Sokoto (Maradi) were compared in a 21-week study. The does in their second parity were monitored over a full lactation. The goats received daily basal grass and browse fodder in addition to a concentrate supplement in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment. The does were hand milked and milk yield (g/d) was quantified daily. Milk samples were analyzed weekly for total solids (TS %), butter fat (BF %), solids-not-fat (SNF %), crude protein (CP %) and total ash (TA %). Lactose concentration (LC %) was analyzed daily immediately after sampling. Macro-minerals in milk samples were determined by dry ash extraction method specific for each mineral element. Milk yield was influenced significantly (p<0.05) by both breed and stage of lactation. The WAD produced more milk (97.34 g/d than RS (87.01 g/d). For both breeds, the average mid lactation milk yield (119.04 g/d) was significantly (p<0.05) different than either early (88.35 g/d) or late (69.14 g/d). The highest milk production was by WAD does in mid lactation (125.10 g/d) and the least was by RS in late lactation (47.07 g/d). The TS, BF, SNF, CP and LC concentrations in milk were not influenced (P>0.05) by breed. The TA was significantly (P<0.05) higher in WAD milk (0.89 %) relative to RS milk (0.88 %). Also, stage of lactation significantly (P<0.05) influenced the concentrations of TS, BF, TA and LC in WAD and RS goats milk. Total solids was significantly (P<0.05) higher in late (13.47 %) than in early (12.53 %) lactation for both breeds. The BF and LC in milk followed similar trend, recording 4.45, 3.89 and 4.13 and 3.98 % in late and early stages of lactation respectively. On the other hand, The TA decreased with advancing lactation and the highest value was obtained in the early (0.92 %) than in mid (0.89 %) and late (0.86 %) lactation in both WAD and RS goat milk. TA was highest in WAD milk in early lactation (0.92 %) and least in RS milk in late lactation (0.85 %). All macro minerals were influenced (p<0.05) by lactation stage and breed differences, except potassium (K) and sodium (Na) which were only influenced by the stage of lactation. The milk of both WAD and RS goats yielded more calcium (Ca) than K, which was attributed to the nutrients in the diets.

Enterolobium cyclocarpum is naturally found in the tropical region and it is a fast growing tree. It is a browse plant that is available all year round. The leaves, seeds, pods and fruits of Enterolobium cyclocarpum are rich in chemical composition such as protein and in secondary metabolites. The secondary metabolites or anti-nutritional factors have both beneficial and detrimental effects. The chemical composition, anti-nutritional factors and nutritive value of Enterolobium cyclocarpum leaves, pods, seeds and fruits were examined in this review. Enterolobium cyclocarpum is rich in: crude protein (10.40 in seeds to 22.50 in leaves), crude fibre (3.10 in leaves to 63.50 in seeds), ether extract (2.21 to 11.00 in leaves), ash (4.40 – 11.80), nitrogen free extract (51.40 – 70.04), neutral detergent fibre (51.4 – 63.94) and acid detergent fibre (31.90 – 42.99).The variations in values could be attributed to soil type, climatic conditions, stage of growth and methods of analyses. The leaves, pods seeds, and fruits of Enterolobium cyclocarpum are rich in the macro minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium and sodium), micro minerals (zinc, manganese, copper and iron) and vitamins (vitamins A, C, D and E) and some are present within the range needed for normal physiological functions of ruminant animals. Secondary metabolites present in Enterolobium cyclocarpum in varying quantities are tannins, saponins, oxalate, phytate, hydrocyanic acid, trypsin inhibitors and alkaloids. Enterolobium cyclocarpum have been identified as the highest poisonous plants, with the fruits being the most toxic that can cause photosensitization. Preservation methods such as toasting, ensiling and sun drying drastically reduced these to beneficial and tolerable levels. These metabolites such as saponins have been reported to reduce the numbers of protozoa in the short run (12 – 14 days) and also favour moderate methane production. Acceptability of Enterolobium cyclocarpum by ruminants is dependent on types of forages offered and previous experience while low to moderate digestibility have been reported in vitro and in vivo. Depending on processing or preservation methods and levels of inclusion in the diets, Enterolobium cyclocarpum have no deleterious effect on growth performance and carcass characteristics of ruminant animals.       Enterolobium cyclocarpum se trouve naturellement dans la région tropicale et c'est un arbre à croissance rapide. C'est une plante à brouter disponible toute l'année. Les feuilles, lesgraines, les gousses et les fruits d'Enterolobium cyclocarpum sont riches en composition chimique comme les protéines et en métabolites secondaires. Les métabolites secondaires ou facteurs anti-nutritionnels ont à la fois des effets bénéfiques et néfastes. La composition chimique, les facteurs anti-nutritionnels et la valeur nutritive des feuilles, des gousses, des graines et des fruits d'Enterolobium cyclocarpum ont été examinés dans cette revue. Enterolobium cyclocarpum est riche en : protéines brutes (10,40 dans les graines à 22,50 dans les feuilles), fibres brutes (3,10 dans les feuilles à 63,50 dans les graines), extrait d'éther (2,21 à 11,00 dans les feuilles), cendres (4,40 - 11,80), extrait sans azote (51.40 – 70.04), fibre au détergent neutre (51.4 – 63.94) et fibre au détergent acide (31.90 – 42.99). Les variations de valeurs peuvent être attribuées au type de sol, aux conditions climatiques, au stade de croissance et aux méthodes d'analyse. Les feuilles, les graines de gousses et les fruits d'Enterolobium cyclocarpum sont riches en macro-minéraux (calcium, phosphore, magnésium et potassium et sodium), en micro-minéraux (zinc, manganèse, cuivre et fer) et en vitamines (vitamines A, C, D et E) et certains sont présents dans la plage nécessaire aux fonctions physiologiques normales des ruminants. Les métabolites secondaires présents dans Enterolobium cyclocarpum en quantités variables sont les tanins, les saponines, l'oxalate, le phytate, l'acide cyanhydrique, les inhibiteurs de la trypsine et les alcaloïdes. Enterolobium cyclocarpum a été identifié comme la plante la plus toxique, les fruits étant les plus toxiques pouvant provoquer une photosensibilisation. Les méthodes de conservation telles que le grillage, l'ensilage et le séchage au soleil les ont considérablement réduits à des niveaux bénéfiques et tolérables. Il a été rapporté que ces métabolites tels que les saponines réduisaient le nombre de protozoaires à court terme (12 à 14 jours) et favorisaient également une production modérée de méthane. L'acceptabilité d'Enterolobium cyclocarpum par les ruminants dépend des types de fourrages offerts et de l'expérience antérieure, tandis qu'une digestibilité faible à modérée a été signalée in vitro et in vivo. Selon les méthodes de transformation ou de conservation et les niveaux d'inclusion dans les régimes alimentaires, Enterolobium cyclocarpum n'a aucun effet délétère sur les performances de croissance et les caractéristiques de la carcasse des ruminants.