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Castor bean cake was prepared from castor bean seeds roasted at 140 degrees C for 20 min and found free from ricin by chemical analysis. The cake was incorporated into diets at 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25% levels and fed to ducks for 6 weeks. Diarrhoea, emaciation and death were observed mainly at 20 and 25% levels. Congestion of the internal organs and haemorrhagic enteritis were found at necropsy of dead birds. There were necrosis and depletion of the parenchymal cells of the liver and lymphoid organs. Most of the histopathological changes in birds killed after 5 weeks of feeding were more severe at 10 and 15% levels. These lesions included degeneration of the renal epithelial cells, hepatocytes, bile duct proliferation and lymphocytic depletion in the lymphoid organs. The average daily feed intake and weight gain were reduced while the mortality was increased at the higher levels of castor bean feeding. The toxicity of the meal could be due to either a heat stable or growth inhibiting factor or due to minute residues of ricin.

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The feeding value of melon (Citrulus vulgaris) seed offal (MSO) was determined in a 12-week feeding trial using 25 six weeks old male rabbits with an average initial weight of 485g. The animals were fed diets containing 0,7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% MSO in a completely randomized design (CRD). Digestibility trial and economic benefits of using the test material were carried out. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and differences between means were also determine. Results obtained showed no significant (P>0.05) treatment effects on daily weight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The cost of feeding diets 1 and 2 was significantly (P<0.05) higher (A$152.34 and N157.20) than for diets 4 and 5 (AL143.53 and N135.56). The cost generally decreased from N152.34- N135.56 with increase in the level of MSO in the diets. The digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) were significantly (P<0.05) affected by increase in the levels of MSO in the diets. DM and CP digestibilities were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 15 and 30% MSO levels when compared with the control and other MSO levels. MSO inclusion in the diets significantly (P<0.05) improved EE digestibility above that of control diet but EE digestibility did not differ significantly (P> 0.05) among diets containing MSO. Crude fibre (CF) and Nitrogen free extract (NFE) digestibilities were similar (P>0.05) for all the diets. It can be concluded that MSO could be used up to 100% replacement for RO in rabbit diets.