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A 90-day study was conducted to determine the response of semi intensively managed West African dwarf sheep to concentrate supplement containing varying levels of neem leaf meal (NLM). Twenty (20) West African Dwarf sheep aged 5 to 6 months with an average weight of 10kg were used in a Completely Randomized Design with animals grouped into four treatments of five replicates each balanced for weight. The animals were allowed to graze on natural pastures predominantly made up of Panicum maximum in the morning with a daily supplementation of 100g concentrate diet containing varying levels of neem leaf meal at 0, 5, 10 and 15%. Blood samples were taken from the animals before the commencement of the experiment and at the end of the experiment. At the start of the experiment, faecal samples were collected from each animal to determine the faecal egg count and this was repeated once in three weeks for the 90 day experimental period. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference in the haematology indices studied with no definate pattern. The inclusion of NLM in the diets of West African Dwarf sheep significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the faecal egg counts across the treatments with a percentage reduction range of 33.38 to 88.00% for sheep on 0% and 5% NLM, respectively. This study, however, concluded that neem leaf inclusion at 5% in West African dwarf sheep’s diet had effects on the overall performance of the animals with a potential improvement in drastic reduction in faecal egg counts.

The study investigated the effect of cassava peel on the growth and development of Gmelina arborea seedlings. The treatment was made up of cassava peel applied to top soil at 1 g, 2 g, 3 g, 4 g, 5 g, 6 g, 7 g, 8 g, 9 g, 10 g. The treatments were replicated three times. The treatments were mixed with 20 kg of soil thereby making a total of thirty three (33). The experiment, which lasted eight weeks, was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and the following variables were assessed; stem height, stem diameter, leaf length and leaf production. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and mean separation was carried out using Least Significant Difference (LSD). The result obtained showed that treatment 6 g gave the best response in term of number of leaves with mean 16.35 while treatment 2 g had the least performance with mean 6.67. The treatment 3 g of cassava peel performed best in terms of leaf length with mean 18.00 while 10 g and 8 g treatments had the lowest stem diameter of 29 cm. With respect to plant height, the treatment of 6 g of cassava peel application had the best response with plant height of 46.67 cm, while the least value of 20.67 cm was recorded in treatment 8 g. Hence, the control (0 g) has significant difference from treatment 8 g. In all the variables assessed, the control showed close values with treatment 8 g, 9 g and 10 g. The result shows a higher level of significant difference to the control at p < 0.05. However, it is recommended that when raising Gmelina arborea where the traits, plant height and leaves are of importance, 6 g of cassava peel is better adapted. Hence, the plant could be raised in the absence of any treatment where appropriate soil is used.

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This study examined the effect of potting mixture of poultry manure and horse-dung on the growth of Tamarindus indica L. The experiment was carried out at the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan and lasted for Sixteen (16) weeks. Four weeks old seedlings were transplanted into polythene pots thoroughly mixed with varying levels of poultry manure and horse-dung at 5 g, 7.5 g and 10 g level of application with 2 kg of top soil each. Control plants received no treatments. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with seven (7) treatments replicated four times each. The following variables were assessed weekly for a period of sixteen weeks: Plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaflet number. The data collected was afterwards subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 5% level of significance. The result shows the treatment T5 which is application of 7.5 g of horse-dung had the best performance with respect to plant height, treatment T3 which the application of 10 g of poultry manure performed best with respect to number of leaflet. Treatment T2 which is the application of 7.5 g of poultry manure had the best performance with respect to production of leaves and treatment T1 which is the application of 5 g of poultry manure performed best with respect to stem girth. Based on the results of this study treatment T5 (horse-dung at 7.5 g) and treatment T1 (poultry manure at 5 g) can be recommended for timber production and furniture making if the trait of desire is along that line. Also treatment T3 (poultry manure at 10g) and treatment T2 (poultry manure at 7.5 g) can be recommended for medicinal purpose and as food if the trait of desire is along that line.