An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of breed, chilling duration and processed product on the quality characteristics of mutton. A total of nine (9) mature rams of 12 months of age (25 Kg) managed on the same system were used. The animals were kept for 24 hours where only water was provided to clear the gut content before slaughter. The experiment was carried out in a factorial arrangement (3 x 3 x 3) of a completely randomized design consisting of three breeds of sheep (Balami, Uda and Yankasa), three chilling durations (0, 24 and 48 hours) and three processed products (Balangu, Tsire and Tukunya). The result revealed that there was no significant (P>0.05) effect of breed on proximate composition of fresh mutton. There was significant (P<0.05) effect of processed product on the proximate composition of mutton. Moisture content was higher in Balangu (54.93 %), followed by Tukunya (51.74 %) and lower in Tsire (41.00 %). Crude protein content was higher in Balangu (33.83 %), followed by Tukunya (29.63 %) which was at par wih Tsire (29.51 %). Ash content was higher in Tsire (6.61 %), followed by Balangu (5.71 %) and lower in Tukunya (3.69 %). Significant (P<0.05) chilling duration effect was obtained for bacteria count which was higher at 0 hours (2.25 x 103 cfu/g) chilling, followed by 24 hours (1.86 x 103 cfu/g) chilling. The same trend was observed for coliform count in which higher value was obtained at 0 hours (4.49 x 102 cfu/g) chilling, followed by 24 hours (3.04 x 102 cfu/g) chilling and 48 hours (2.93 x 102 cfu/g) chilling. Sensory properties of mutton from different breed differed significantly (P<0.05) among processed products. The overall accepatability indicates that Tsire (7.60) product was more acceptable, followed by Tukunya (7.20) product while Balangu (6.86) product was less acceptable. The microbial count obtained from the study was within the acceptable range (< 3.5 log HACCP 2002). It can be concluded that processed meat products (Tsire, Balangu and Tukunya) obtained from different breeds of Nigerian sheep (Balami, Uda and Yankasa) were not homogenous in their proximate composition. It is therefore recommended that fresh mutton should be chilled for 24 to 48 hours with little or no bacteria while fresh meat from the three breed of sheep (Balami, Uda and Yankasa) can be chilled for 24 to 48 hours with little or no bacteria and can be processed into different products (Tsire, Balangu and Tukunya).

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of variety, plant spacing and stage of harvest on the forage yield components of two sorghum varieties (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) at the National Animal Production Research Institute Shika, Zaria. The agronomic study was laid in a 2 × 3 × 5 factorial arrangement of a Split Plot Design with three replicates, which consist of two varieties (bush head and sweet sorghums), three plant spacing (15 × 85, 20 × 85 and 25 × 85 cm) and five stages of harvest (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks after sowing), respectively. The forage yield was determined at 14 weeks after sowing (WAS). Leaf length (68.68 cm), stem diameter (7.13 cm), number of leaves per plant (12.02) and leaf area index (2.78) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in bush head sorghum variety. Similarly, plant spacing significantly (p<0.05) affected the leaf area index (LAI) with the highest leaf area index recorded in 15 × 85 cm plant spacing. There was significant (p<0.05) interaction between variety and plant spacing. Stage of harvest significantly (p<0.05) affected all the growth parameters with 14 weeks having the highest (223.88 cm) plant height and 10.37 number of leaves per plant and the stage of harvest at 12 weeks after sowing (WAS) recorded the highest 69.84 cm leaf length, 6.82 cm leaf width and 2.46 leaf area index. While stage of harvest at 6 and 10 weeks after sowing (WAS) also having the highest number of tillers per plant and stem diameter of 1.24 and 6.47 cm respectively. Fresh forage yield was significantly (p<0.05) higher (42.92 t/ha) in bush head sorghum variety not and plant spacing significantly (p<0.05) affected fresh forage and dry matter yields at 14 weeks after sowing (WAS). The highest fresh forage yield (41.81 t/ha) and dry matter yield (7.99 t/ha) were recorded in 15 × 85 cm plant spacing. It was concluded, that harvesting of Sorghum bicolor bush head and sweet sorghum varieties for forage is to be best carried out at 14 weeks after sowing for better forage productivity.      L'étude a été menée pour évaluer les effets de la variété de sorgho, et faisant l'espace des plantes sur les composantes de rendement fourrage de deux variétés de sorgho (Sorgho bicolore L. Moench) à l'Institut National de Recherche sur la Production Animale Shika, Zaria. L'étude agronomique a été posée dans un 2 × 3 × 5 arrangement factorial d'une conception de parcelle divisée avec trois répliques, qui se composent de deux variétés (leEffect of variety and plant spacing on yield components of two sorghum varieties (Sorghum bicolor l. Moench)'bush head' et sorghos sucrés), de trois espacements végétaux (15 × 85, 20 × 85 et 25 × 85 cm) et de cinq étapes de récolte (6, 8, 10, 12 et 14 semaines après le semailles), respectivement. Le rendement du fourrage a été déterminé à 14 semaines après la semailles (le 'WAS'). La longueur des feuilles (68,68 cm), le diamètre de la tige (7,13 cm), le nombre de feuilles par plante (12,02) et l'indice de la superficie des feuilles (2,78) étaient significativement (p<0,05) plus élevés dans la variété de sorgho 'bush head'. De même, l'espacement des plantes de façon significative (p<0,05) a affecté l'indice de la superficie des feuilles (le 'LAI') avec l'indice de superficie folio-feuille le plus élevé enregistré en 15 × espacement des plantes de 85 cm. Il y avait une interaction significative (p<0,05) entre la variété et l'espacement des plantes. L'étape de la récolte a eu une incidence importante (p<0,05) sur tous les paramètres de croissance, 14 semaines ayant la hauteur végétale la plus élevée (223,88 cm) et 10,37 le nombre de feuilles par plante et le stade de la récolte à 12 semaines après le semis (WAS) ayant enregistré la longueur de feuilles la plus élevée de 69,84 cm, la largeur des feuilles de 6,82 cm et l'indice de la superficie des feuilles de 2,46 feuilles. Alors que le stade de la récolte à 6 et 10 semaines après le semailles (le 'WAS') a également le plus grand nombre de laboureurs par plante et le diamètre de la tige de 1,24 et 6,47 cm respectivement. Le rendement des fourrages frais était significativement (p<0,05) plus élevé (42,92 t/ha) dans la variété de sorgho de la tête de brousse et l'espacement des plantes de façon significative (p<0,05) affectait les rendements de fourrage frais et de matière sèche à 14 semaines après le semis (le 'WAS'). Le rendement le plus élevé en fourrage frais (41,81 t/ha) et en matière sèche (7,99 t/ha) a été enregistré dans 15 × espacement des plantes de 85 cm. Il a été conclu que la récolte de 'bush head' bicolore de Sorgho et des variétés de sorgho sucré pour le fourrage doit être effectuée au mieux 14 semaines après la semailles pour une meilleure productivité fourragère.

Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa offer their stocks little or no supplementary feed but depend mostly on native pastures which are in low nutrient quality. The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of feeding regime on growth performance, nutrient metabolism, rumen indices and economics of production of Yankasa rams fed basal diets of grain sorghum hay or silage supplemented with concentrate. Sixteen growing Yankasa rams weighed 17.0±0.2 kg were randomly assigned to four feeding regime treatment: T1 = Sorghum hay + concentrate daily, T2  = Sorghum silage + concentrate daily, T3  = Sorghum silage  + concentrate  after  1-day  and  T4    =  Sorghum  silage  +  concentrate  after  2-days.          The parameters measured were hay intake, concentrate intake, total feed intake, daily feed intake, initial weight, final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), apparent nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and costs-benefit. The result showed that hay intake (25.28 – 29.23 kg), concentrate intake (6.19 – 19.41 kg), total feed intake (35.41 – 48.47 kg), daily weight gain (0.04 – 0.05 kg) and weight gain (2.85 – 3.35 kg) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the feeding regime with rams fed silage + concentrate daily recording higher values. Better FCR was obtained in rams fed silage + concentrate after 2-days. Dry matter (79.22%), crude protein (85.59%), NDF (75.30%) and ADF (78.02%) digestibility coefficients were higher (P<0.05) for rams fed silage + concentrate after 1-day (every other day). The percentage of nitrogen absorbed and retained were higher (P<0.05) in rams fed silage + concentrate after 1-day (85.62 and 82.72%, respectively). The cost per kg gain of N1046.40 for rams fed hay + concentrate daily was significantly (P <0.05) lower than the cost per kg gain of other feeding regimes. It can be concluded that sorghum silage could be fed alongside concentrate daily for improved feed intake and weight gain, but for better cost-efficiency, it is recommended that farmers should feed hay and supplement concentrate daily to rams.     Les petits exploitants agricoles d'Afrique subsaharienne offrent peu ou pas d'aliments supplémentaires à leurs stocks, mais dépendent principalement de pâturages indigènes de faible qualité nutritive. L'étude visait à évaluer l'effet du régime alimentaire sur la performance de croissance, le métabolisme des nutriments, les indices rumen et l'économie de la production de béliers Yankasa nourris à des régimes basaux de foin de sorgho de grain ou d'ensilage complétés par du concentré. Seize béliers Yankasa en croissance pesaient 17,0±0,2 kg ont été assignés au hasard à quatre traitements du régime alimentaire : T1 = foin de Sorgho + concentré tous les jours, T2 = ensilage de Sorgho + concentré tous les jours, T3 de Sorgho + concentré après 1 jour et T4 = ensilage de Sorgho + concentré après 2 jours. Les paramètres mesurés étaient l'apport en foin, l'apport en concentré, la consommation totale d'aliments pour animaux, l'apport quotidien en aliments pour animaux, le poids initial, le poids final, le gain de poids quotidien, le rapport de conversion des aliments pour animaux (FCR), la digestibilité apparente des éléments nutritifs, l'équilibre azoté et les coûts-avantages. Le résultat a montré que l'apport en foin (25.28 à 29.23 kg), l'apport en concentré (6.19 à 19.41 kg), la consommation totale d'aliments (35.41 à 48.47 kg), le gain de poids quotidien (0,04 à 0,05 kg) et le gain de poids (2.85 à 3.35 kg) ont été considérablement (P<0.05) affectés par le régime d'alimentation avec des béliers nourris à l'ensilage + concentré enregistrant quotidiennement des valeurs plus élevées. Un meilleur FCR a été obtenu dans l'ensilage alimenté par bélier + concentré après 2 jours. Matière sèche (79.22 %), protéines brutes (85.59 %), NDF (75.30 %) et ADF (78.02%) les coefficients de digestibilité étaient plus élevés (P<0.05) pour les béliers nourris à l'ensilage après 1 jour (tous les deux jours). Le pourcentage d'azote absorbé et retenu était plus élevé (P<0.05) chez les béliers nourris à l'ensilage + concentré après 1 jour (85.62 et 82.72 %, respectivement). Le gain par kg de N1046.40 pour les béliers nourris quotidiennement au foin + concentré était significativement (P <0.05) inférieur au coût par kg de gain des autres régimes alimentaires. On peut conclure que l'ensilage de sorgho pourrait être alimenté aux côtés du concentré quotidien pour améliorer l'apport alimentaire et le gain de poids, mais pour une meilleure rentabilité, il est recommandé que les agriculteurs nourrissent le foin et complètent le concentré quotidiennement aux béliers

A study was carried out to determine the chemical composition of roselle seeds fermented at varying durations. One kg cleaned Roselle seeds were soaked in 3L of water for 8 hours. The soaked seeds were drained and fermented for 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours as treatments. Samples of fermented roselle seeds at different duration of fermentations were analyzed for chemical composition including anti-nutritional factors. The results showed that there was significant (P<0.05) effect of fermentation duration on chemical composition and antinutritional factors of roselle seeds. Dry matter and crude protein content increased as fermentation duration increased from 0 to 96 hours. The highest dry matter (91.87%) and crude protein (35.05%) were obtained at 96 hours while crude fibre and ether extract decreased with increased fermentation duration. Crude fibre (6.55%) and ether extract (26.79%) were highest at 0 hours. Ash and nitrogen free extract content ranged from 5.41 – 5.78 % and 30.62 – 39.19 %, respectively. Anti-nutritional factor contents declined withincreased fermentation duration. The lowest values for saponin (2.02%), tannin (0.15%), phytic acid (5.44%) and trypsin inhibitor (8.93%) were obtained at 96 hours fermentation. It can be concluded that roselle seeds fermented for 96 hours enhanced nutrient availability and significantly reduced tannin, phytate, saponin and trypsin inhibitor anti-nutritional factors.

To determine the influence of sorghum variety, planting dates and ages of harvest on growth parameters and forage yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in Shika, Nigeria, an experiment was conducted in split plots in the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Nigeria. The experimental treatments comprised of two sorghum varieties (SAMSORG-16 as V1 and SAMSORG-17 as V2), three planting dates (15th June, 30th June and 14th July as P1, P2 and P3) and three ages of harvest (6, 10 and 14 weeks after sowing as C1, C2 and C3), respectively. Results showed that plant height of sorghum bicolor significantly (P<0.05) differed between variety with higher values in Samsorg-16. Plant height, number of leaves and leaf area index (LAI) decreased (P<0.05) from 15th June to 14th July planting date. However, there was a significant increasing trend (P<0.05) in these parameters as ages of harvest advanced from 6 to 14 week after sowing (WAS). Significant (P<0.05) interaction effect between variety and planting date was observed for plant height.  Similarly, significant (P<0.05) interaction effect was observed in the number of leaves and LAI. There was non-significant (P>0.05) effect of variety on fresh and dry forage yields. Fresh and dry forage yields declined from 54.73 and 10.49 t/ha to 30.72 and 6.11 t/ha from 15th June to 14th July planting dates, respectively. Whereas fresh and dry forage yields increased from 12.22 and 1.37 t/ha to 58.94 and 14.47 t/ha as ages of harvest increased from 6 to 14 WAS,