The aim of the study was to assess the milk yield and composition of dairy cattle of different locations during dry season in selected dairy farms in Kano state. One hundred and twenty lactating cows (different stages of lactation) include Bunaji, Bokoloji, Fresian x Bunaji were used, ten from each twelve dairy farms to assess milk yield and composition. Daily milk yield was recorded for two months. Five milk samples from each farm were analysed for its composition. Danbatta farm was the best in average daily milk yield (ADMY) of 3.86l, Dantube farm was the lowest of 2.49l which differ (p<0.001), Imawa arewa, Asibitin tafasa and Lautaye farms didn’t vary other farms differ. Fat(%) did not vary in all the farms, TS(%) Total solid, TA(%) Titrable acidity, CP(%) Crude protein, Ash(%), SNF(%) Solid non fat differ (p<0.001). Tsaunin fulani farm was the best in Fat(%) 4.26, Asibitin tafasa farm was the lowest of 3.84. Lautaye was the best in TS(%) 57.2, Dakatsalle was the lowest of 38.8. Imawa arewa was the best TA(%) of 0.38, Dakatsalle, Kuki and shinkafi farms are the lowest of 0.29. Imawa arewa, Danbatta and Kwanar dumawa farms are the best in CP(%) 4.24, Kuki farm was the lowest of 3.46. Dantube farm was the best in Ash(%) of 0.54, Dakatsalle, Kuki are the lowest of 0.32. Lautaye was the best in SNF(%) 52.96, Dakatsalle farm was the lowest of 34.6. Fat(%) differ (p<0.05), TS(%) (p<0.001) among the breeds while their ADMY, TA(%), CP(%), Ash(%), SNF(%) did not vary. Bunaji was the best in Fat(%) of 4.22, TS(%) 50.2, SNF(%) 45.74 with ADMY of 2.74l. Fresian x Bunaji was superior in CP(%) 4.24, lowest in Fat(%) 3.88, Ash(%) 0.44, TS(%) 39.2, SNF(%) 35.32 with the best ADMY of 4.01l. Bokoloji was superior in Ash(%) of 0.47 lowest in TA(%) 0.31 with ADMY of 2.67l. Therefore, Danbatta farm, Fresian x Bunaji with the best milk yield, Tsaunin fulani farm with the best Fat(%), Lautaye farm TS(%), Imawa arewa TA(%), Imawa arewa, Danbatta and Kwanar dumawa farms CP(%), Dantube farm Ash(%), Lautaye farm SNF(%), Bunaji breed with the best Fat(%), TS(%), TA(%), SNF(%), Bokoloji breed Ash(%), Fresian x Bunaji CP(%) was recommended. Milk yield and composition varied between dairy breeds, herds of the same breed and even between individual cows of a breed.

No abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass characteristics, haematological parameters and cost effectiveness in broilers fed self-formulated and four commercial diets as coded T1 (Control diet), T2, T3, T4 and T5. A total of 220 Anak 2000 broiler chicks were allotted to five dietary treatments with 44 birds per diet and 11 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and the experiment lasted for 49 days. The daily feed intake (53.00-75.55 g), daily weight gain (26.73-43.36 g), feed conversion ratio (1.69-2.29) and mortality (4-14) were significantly affected by the dietary treatments (P < 0.001). Many of the carcass parameters measured were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the treatments. However, significant (P < 0.05) variations were observed in plucked weight (1.22-1.69 kg), eviscerated weight (1.13-1.59 kg), carcass weight (1.12-1.48 kg) and relative weight of pancreas (0.15-0.31%) as a proportion of live weight. The relative weight of head, spleen, and abdominal fat also differ (P<0.05) among the diets. Most of the haematological parameters studied were within the normal range and were similar except white blood cell (2.18-3.28%) which was significantly affected (P < 0.01) by the dietary treatment. The feed cost per kilogram gained ranged between N124.67-N190.29 ($0.86-1.31) with the lowest value obtained for the self-formulated diet which proved to be most economical.