An experiment was conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2011 dry seasons to investigate the use of lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet) as alternative forage legume for use in maize-legume intercrop under 3 irrigation regimes. Lablab was harvested for forage yield from 6 to 18 weeks after seeding. Forage yield and quality of lablab at different ages of growth and irrigation frequency, as well as maize grain yield and yield components were measured. Plant height of maize and number of leaves of lablab were not affected (P > 0.05) by years of trial. Plant stand count of lablab, number of leaves of maize, plant height of lablab, and LAI of maize and lablab differed (P < 0.05) with years of trial. Irrigation frequency did not affect (P < 0.05) number of leaves of maize and lablab. There were significant (P < 0.05) interactions between age of cutting x year of trial x irrigation schedule on dry forage yield of lablab. Age of cutting had no effect (P > 0.05) on forage Mg and Na contents of lablab. The CP contents of lablab at 15 and 18 WAS were lower (P < 0.05) than the CP at 6 WAS. The forage CF, NDF, ADF, EE and NFE differed (P < 0.05). Except ADF and Ca: P, measured nutrients did not differ (P > 0.05) with irrigation frequency. The maize grain yield was higher (P < 0.05) in 2010 and 2011 (1722-1726 kg/ha) than 2009 (1412 kg/ha). Results from this study suggest that lablab could be introduced as a component crop in an intercropping system with maize under irrigation in Nigeria.

An inclusion level of Ficus sycomorus leaf meal (FSLM) at 0 %(T1), 25%(T2), 50%(T3) and 75%(T4) in Urea treated maize cob based complete diet was evaluated. Four Red Sokoto goats averaging 15 ± 1.5kg live body weight were used to measure feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance. Urea treatment of maize cob resulted in two fold increase in crude protein. Feed intake was significantly (p<0.05) affected by inclusion level of Ficus sycomorus. Although the intake of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in T2 and decreased with increase in the level of inclusion of Ficus sycomorus leaf meal. Significant (P<0.05) intake of crude protein (CP) was observed in T3. DM digestibility was significantly (p<0.05) higher with supplementation. T2 had higher DM digestibility (46.52), followed by T1 and T3 which were statistically lower and similar (43.39 and 41.36, respectively).The least DM digestibility was observed in T4 (37.69). Inclusion of FSLM significantly (p<0.05) decreased Nitrogen retention with increase in the level of inclusion observed in this order (14.34, 11.59 and 8.45g/day) for T2, T3 and T4, respectively. T1, T2 and T3 had significantly (p<0.05) higher and similar absorbed N, while T4 had a lower absorbed N. Ficus sycomorus can be included up to 50% in a urea treated maize cob based complete diets for feeding goats, without any adverse effects.Key words: complete diet, ficus, maize cob, urea treatment

A study was conducted on the inclusion level of Gmelina arborea leaf meal (GLM) in cowpea shell base complete diet for red Sokoto buck. Four red Sokoto goats of average weight 13.4kg were used for the study to measure the feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance involving four dietary treatment T1, T2, T3 and T4 containing 0% 10% 20% and 30% levels of inclusions of Gmelina arborea respectively, in a 4X4 Latin square, with each period lasting 21days of 14 adjustment and 7days collection period. The result showed significant (p<0.05) difference in dry matter (DM) intake. T3 had the highest DM intake (789.41g/day), while T1, T2 and T4 had statistically similar and lower DMI. The organic matter (OM) intake were significantly (p<.05) different. T3 and T4 had similar and significantly (p<0.05) higher OMI, while T1 and T2 had significantly (p<0.05) similar and lower OMI. Crude protein (CP) intake was significantly (p<0.05) higher in animals fed T3 (118.28), while T1, T2 and T4 were similar, but significantly (p<0.05) lower. Also,for crude fiber (CF) intake, T3 had significantly (p<0.05) higher while T2 and T4 were not significantly (p>0.05) different.T1 had the least. There was no significant (p>0.0%) difference in DM, OM CP and CF digestibility, however, numerically there was a reduction with increase in the level of GLM inclusion in the complete diets across treatment. Nitrogen balance result showed a significant (p<0.05) difference across the dietary treatments. T3 had significantly (p<0.05) higher N intake (118.28g/day) whereas T1 T2 and T4 were statistically similar and lower. Fecal N excreted showed significant (p<0.05) difference between treatments. Higher fecal N was recorded in animals fed on T3, while T2 and T4 had similar fecal N output and the least was observed in T1. Animals fed T3 diet had significantly (p<0.05) higher N retained and N observed, followed by T1, T2 and the least was in animals fed T4 diet. N retained as percent of intake showed T1 to be significantly (p<0.05) higher than T2, T3 and T4, which were lower (p<0.05) and similar. From the result of this study, G. arborea can be included at 20% in cowpea shell base complete diets for goats.Keywords: Buck, Cowpea shell, Gmelina arborea, red Sokoto

Thirty (30) growing rabbits of mixed breeds and sexes with an average initial weight of 526.92±0.25g  ere used for this study to determine the effect of level of inclusion of Ziziphus leaf meal (ZLM) in concentrate diet on the performance of growing rabbits. The experiment was in a completely randomized design involving five treatments, which represented five diets with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% levels of ZLM inclusion. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in weight gains, feed intake and feed:gain ratios. Treatment 2 had the highest weight gain (though not significantly different (p>0.05) from treatment 1 and the best feed /gain values.The cost benefit analysis shows a 40.51 % reduction in the cost of feed, following a 10 % inclusion of ZLM in the diet (T2) over the control (T1), while 46.35 and 47.94 % reduction were observed following 20 and 30 % ZLM inclusion (T3 and T4) respectively. In term of apparent profit made, T1 recorded the highest profit (N 35.29) over all other treatments, which was followed by T2 (N30.49), T3 (N15.11) and T4 recorded the least (N 12.99). Inclusion of RHSM in the diet of rabbits resulted in reduction in the cost of feed and feed cost efficiency. From the results obtained it was concluded that  dried ZLM could be incorporated up to 30% in the diets of growing rabbits without any adverse effect on their performance.

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