The common Nigerian bull cattle breeds, Rahaji (RJ), Bunaji (BJ), Sokoto Gudali (SG) and Adamawa Gudali (AG) were randomly selected as they were coming into Mubi main abattoir from different background for slaughter. Previous sexual activities were not monitored. The study was carried out to assess the effect of age and body condition scores (BCS) on gonodal and extragonodal sperm reserve. Significant age group differences on sperm production were observed. Age group ≥ 4 years had highest sperm production potential followed by age group 3 . Generally it was observed that higher age group as well as BCS5 had a better potential for sperm production among the bull breeds studied.

Testicular and paired epididymal sperm production as affected by breed and season were studied among the common Nigerian indigenous bull cattle. Rahaji (RJ) bulls recorded the highest sperm production ability followed by Bunaji (BJ), Sokoto gudali (SG) while Adamawa gudali (AG) had the least. The corresponding paired testes sperm reserve (PTSR) values were; 149.91±2.68x10 9 , 134.69±2.48x10 9 , 118.34±2.59x10 9 and 116.82±2.55x10 9 ; for RJ, BJ, SG and AG bulls respective values for right testes sperm reserve (RTSR) were (RJ), 74.72±1.35x10 9 , (BJ), 66.39±1.25x10 9 , (SG), 59.33±1.31x10 9 and (AG), 58.36±1.29x10 9 ; left testes sperm reserve (LTSR) values were74.20±1.75x10 9 , 67.26±1.61x10 9 , 57.82±1.68x10 9 and 58.37±1.66x10 9 ,for RJ, BJ, SG, and AG bulls, while for paired epididymal sperm reserve count (PESR) values were (RJ), 301.15±4.67x10 9 , (BJ), 277.72±4.32x10 9 , (SG), 238.70±4.50x10 9 and (AG), 232.28±4.44x10 9. significant (P<0.05) season difference on sperm production was observed with the early dry (ED) season favouring sperm production best followed by late dry season (LD) late rain (LR) while early rain (ER) was least. Corresponding PTSR values were 138.69±2.69x10 9 , 132.57±2.60x10 9 , 126.70±2.52x10 9 and 121.45±2.49x10 9 ; respective RTRS values were 69.71±1.36x10 9 , 65.94±1.31x10 9 , 63.39±1.27x10 9 and 59.58±1.26x10 9 while PESR values were 275.93±4.68x10 9 , 269.06±4.38x10 9 , 260.09±4.53x10 9 and 243.88±4.34x10 9. Sperm production potential was observed to be highest in RJ bulls and least in AG bulls, while early dry season favours best the production of sperm and bulls in the period of early rain had the least.

The experiment was designed to examine the effect of types and levels of animal protein supplements on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed digestibility in rats. Thirty (30) weaning albino rats of the Wister strain were subjected to five dietary treatments, diet 1 (control diet) contained soybean meal only as a source of protein concentrate, diets 2 and 3 were supplemented with 2.5% and 5.0% levels of fish meal (FM) respectively while diets 4 and 5 were supplemented with blood meal (BM) at 2.5% and 5.0%levels respectively. Animals fed on the supplemented diets at 5.0% levels of BM and FM had the highest weight gain of 3.14g and 3.0g/day respectively, followed by animals fed on supplemented diets at 2.5% levels of BM and FM (2.9g and 2.82g/day respectively). Animals fed unsupplemented soybean diet had the least weight gain of 2.51g/day. However type and levels of protein supplement had no significant effect on the growth rate of the rats.

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ABTRACTThe five most feed resources (Faidherbia albida, Cowpea husk, Sorghum husk, Cotton seed cake and groundnut haulms) in use for ruminants feeding in Mubi and environment were studied. Variations in nutrients values of the local ingredients necessitates the combination of two or more of the feed resources in order to optimize qualitative and quantitative feeds for the teaming ruminants animals in the area. Nine classes of diet were formulated based on measurement of the five feed resources. Diet 1: 3 tiya of sorghum husk and 2 tiya of cotton seed cake; Diet 2; 3 tiya of sorghum husk and 2 tiya of Acacia pods; Diet 3; 3tiya of sorghum husk plus tiya of cotton seed cake and 2 tiya of acacia pods; Diet 4; 3 tiya of cowpea husk and 2 tiya of cotton seed cake; Diet 5; 3 tiya of cowpea husk and 2 tiya of Acacia pods; Diet 6; 3 tiya of cowpea husk plus 2 tiya of cotton seed cake and 2 tiya of Acacia pods; Diet 7; 3 tiya of groundnuts haulms and 2 tiya of cotton seed cake; Diet 8; 3 tiya of groundnuts haulms and 2 tiya of Acacia pods while Diet 9; 3 tiya of groundnuts haulms plus2 tiya of Acacia pods plus 2 tiya of cotton seed cake. Proximate chemical composition of the five feed resources and the nine diets formulated were similar .20, and 10.60 for diet 1-9 respectively) unlike the variations in crude protein of the five feed resources, Faidherbia albida (17.10CP) Cotton seed cake (41.00CP), groundnuts haulms (10.90 CP), Cowpea husk (12.97CP) and sorghum husk (6.60CP).