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Organ characteristics of male growing male pigs fed low crude protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme were determined using 36 hybrid (Landrace x Large white) male pigs of 8-10 weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 Kcal ME/kg) and three crude protein levels (14, 16 and 18 % CP) were used to formulate six dietary treatments; T1: control (3000 Kcal ME/kg; 18 % CP), T2 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP), T3 (3000 Kcal ME/kg; 14 % CP), T4 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 18 % CP), T5 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 16 % CP) and T6 (2600 Kcal ME/kg; 14 % CP). The enzyme was added to all the treatments at 1g/kg diet except the control. The treatments were replicated three times with two pigs per replicate. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial. The pigs were starved for 12 hours but allowed access to drinking water, stunned and bled completely. It was cut open though the thorax region along the underline to the abdomen, exposing the entire internal organs and GIT contents. The heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen and other internal organs were examined, carefully removed and weighed with a sensitive electronic kitchen scale, model SF-400. Higher (P

Seventy two (72) sexed crossbred rabbits aged 6 months were used to determine the effect of ginger rhizome powder (GRP) supplementation on reproductive organ and serum sex hormonal characteristics of pubertal rabbits. The experimental rabbits were divided into 2 treatment groups comprising 36 males and 36 females. Each group was divided into 4 dietary treatments (BT1, BT2, BT3 and BT4 ) of 9 animals and replicated thrice with 3 animals per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). The animals were fed formulated diet containing 2900 Kcal ME kg-1 and 18% crude protein supplemented with GRP at the rate of 0, 5, 10 and 15 g kg-1 feed respectively. Rabbits in each dietary group were fed 50gms of Guinea grass leaf meal containing 27.6% CF (dry matter basis) occasionally as additional fibre sources. Feed and water were offered ad libitum and the study lasted for 10 weeks. Testosterone values of BT (5.83 ng mL-1) and BT (6.28 ng mL-1) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels of BT (1.15 mIU mL-1) were significantly influenced (p

One of the reliable information for evaluating nutritional status, performance and physiological state of farm animals to nutrient utilization is through haematological indices assessment. Haematological parameters of grower pigs fed low crude protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme (enziblend plus+) were determined using 36 hybrid (Landrace x Large white) male pigs of 8-10 weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 Kcal ME/kg) and three crude protein levels (18, 16 and 14 % CP) were used to formulate Six dietary treatments; T1 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP), T2 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T3 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T4 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T5 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet) and T6 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet). The treatments were replicated three with two pigs per replicate. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial, and T1 served as the control. Blood samples were collected (3mls) via the ear vein from one pig in each replicate, three from treatment for haematological analysis. The results of this study recorded significant differences (P

Blood chemistry of growing male pigs fed low crude protein (CP) and low-energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme was determined using 36 male pigs aged 8–10-weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 kcal ME /kg) and three protein (18, 16, and 14% CP) levels were used to formulate 6 treatment diets: T1 (3000 kcal ME/kg and 18% CP), T2 (3000 kcal ME/Kg and 16% CP), T3 (3000 kcal ME/kg and 14% CP), T4 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 18% CP), T5 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 16% CP) and T6 (2600 kcal ME/kg and 14% CP). T1 served as the control diet, while T2–T6 was supplemented with 1.0 g enzyme/kg feed each. The treatments were replicated thrice with two pigs per replicate in a 2 × 3 factorial and analysed statistically. Serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, urea, creatinine, urea/creatinine ratio, cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analysed. Low-energy diets (3000 and 2600 kcal ME/kg) plus enzyme supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) any of the serum parameter measured. Also, dietary low CP level plus enzyme supplementation influenced (P < 0.05) aspects of the serum parameters. Higher (P < 0.05) total protein, albumin and creatinine were noticed in pigs fed with T2 diet; while pigs fed with T4 diet had higher (P < 0.05) urea compared with those on the other 5 treatment diets. Significant dietary interaction effects (P < 0.05) were observed on cholesterol, ALT, AST and ALP. The quadratic regression model revealed that aspects of serum parameters in pigs were optimized at different low-protein and low-energy levels. In conclusion, the results suggest that pigs on T2 diet had the best serum parameters.

The main objective of this study was to compare the effects of different plantain ash sources (plantain root base ash (PRA) and plantain stalk ash (PSA) supplementation on the performance of pullets fed commercial diets. Ninety six Isa brown pullets aged 15 weeks were therefore used to assess the effect of supplementing commercial diets with plantain root base (PRA) and stalk ashes (PSA) on growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics of pullets during 4 weeks before point of laying (19 weeks of age) and 6 weeks of laying period (25 weeks of age). The pullets were divided into two groups of 48 each for supplementation with either PSA or PRA. Each group was divided into four groups of 12, which were further replicated 3 times with 4 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. At each developmental stage, the feed offered to the birds was supplemented with 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3 g/kg body weight of PSA or PRA. One g/kgBW of PRA supplementation elicited observable growth performance effects on the birds, while for PSA it was 2 g/kgBW. The 2 g/kgBW PSA supplemented birds gained significantly (P

Ninety six unsexed day old Marshall broiler chickens were divided into 4 groups of 3replicates each on weight equalization basis (42.87 – 43.24g). The chicks were usedto determine the effect of partial replacement of maize with combinations of palmkernel cake (PKC), yam peel meal (YPM) and plantain peel meal (PPM) in broilerstarter diets. Four broiler starter diets were formulated such that diet T1 (control)contained 54% maize. Diets T2, T3 and T4 contained PKC, YPM and PPM in theratios, 1:1:2, 1: 2:1 and 1: 1: 2 replacing 50% of maize. The chick groups were eachrandomly assigned to one of the experimental broiler starter diets in a completelyrandomised design (CRD) experiment. The feed and water were offered ad libitum.Results indicated that birds on diet T4 recorded significantly (p0.05) for all groupswhile feed cost savings relative to the control diet ranged from 23.51 – 24.51%. Birdson diets T4 recorded the lowest feed cost per kg body weight gain. It is concluded thatcombinations of PKC, YPM and PPM could safely replace 50% of maize in broilerstarter diet with 1: 1: 2 combination ratio producing a superior performance.Key Words: Combinations, Palm kernel cake, Yam peel, Plantain peel, Broilers

An experiment was conducted to evaluate carcass parameters of muscovy ducks reared under semi intensive system (SI), intensive system with wallow (IW) and intensive system without wallow (IO) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Thirty six ducks (18 males and 18 females) were slaughtered from the three treatments comprising 3 males and three females from each of two replicates of a treatment selected randomly at the age of 20 weeks. Carcass yield, thigh muscle weight and breast muscle weight of ducks under intensive systems were significantly higher (P 0.05) were observed in these parameters that can be attributed to management systems. In conclusion, rearing Muscovy ducks under intensive system of management produced better carcass yield.

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Nigerian native muscovy ducks in terms of growth and feed utilization in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) under semi intensive system (SI), Intensive system with wallow (IW), and intensive system without wallow (IO). Eighteen males and equal number of female ducklings were allotted to two replicates each of the three treatments and fed from week 5 to week 20 with diet containing 17% CP and 2848.9 kcal/kg energy. Weekly weights were measured and compared using two-way analysis of variance. Final body weights were SI (males: 2507.07g, females: 1733.83g), IW (males: 2466.67g, females: 1641.17g) and IO (males: 2464.84g, females: 1657.67g). Average daily gains of drakes were 16.07g (SI), 16.39g (IW) 15.87g (IO); while those of females were 10.18g, 11.03g and 9.91g respectively. Average daily gain of drakes was significantly higher (P 0.05) on performance of muscovy ducks in the region.

Rising human population throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries has detrimental effects on life supporting system on earth. Traditionally, plants have been used to treat different kinds of ailments. The growing importance of phytochemicals in males has been reported. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of male contraceptive. This review attempts to discuss the latest reports on the potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males.

The effects of sex on growth, haematology and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed unpeeled cassava tuber meal, peeled cassava tuber meal and cassava peel meal were investigated in a randomized complete block design using thirty two weaned rabbits aged 6 and 7 weeks. Four diets were formulated. Diet 1 (the control) contained 37% maize as the main energy source. Maize in diet 1 was replaced with unpeeled cassava tuber meal (UCTM), peeled cassava tuber meal (PCTM) and cassava peel meal (CPM) in diets 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Each diet was fed to a group of eight (4 males and 4 females) weaned rabbits (NZW X Chinchilla). The results showed that there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between sexes for all parameters examined. Dietary treatment effect was observed in growth performance as rabbits fed UCTM recorded significantly higher (P 0.05) amongst treatments.