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The experiment was conducted to assess physical, chemical and total bacterial counts of ensiled Lablab and Hay as influenced by variety and periods in semi-arid region of Borno state. The experiment was carried out at the Animal Science Laboratory, University of Maiduguri. 50kg of fresh leaves from three Lablab varieties were used for the experiment. Size reduction was done in the first part to 3cm, wilted and 3kg were ensiled in mini silo then replicated three times, each variety were then subjected to 30, 40 and 50days fermentation and silage quality were analysed using Completely Randomized Design. The second part (25kg) was spilt into two, then cured under sun and under Shade for 3 days. Results showed no significant difference on the main effects of silage. CP for all the varieties ranges between 11.32 to 12.26%. Furthermore, there was significant difference observed on effects of days of silage on chemical composition. Silage at 50days recorded the highest DM and OM with 90.4 and 87.6% respectively. All fibre fraction in the period measured and interaction effects between varieties and days of silage had significant (P<0.05) difference, with 50days silage recording the highest DM, OM, CF, NDF and ADF for all varieties. However, no significant difference was observed on the main effects of varieties on mineral composition. Quality under different periods maintain green colour at 30days of silage for all varieties. The chemical composition of the two curing methods used for the lablab varieties revealed that DM, OM, NDF, ADF were higher in sun dried hay while CP was higher in shade dried. Physical characteristics of lablab hay under the two curing methods were rated good. In conclusion, white and brown varieties of lablab gave better DM and CP at 30 to 40days silage. Appearance was very good at 30 and 40days of silage and both sun and shade dried lablab were excellent when cured for 3days.

The assessment of growth characteristics of noilers chickens as determined by non- linear algorithms will provide the best mathematical function in the growth of male and female noilers chickens This study sought to determine the adequacy of two mathematical functions for modeling growth characteristics of male and female Noiler® chickens. Body weights and morphometric traits of 200 Noiler chickens were measured bimonthly for 20 weeks and the data obtained fitted to the Gompertz and Logistic growth models using the nonlinear regression. The results showed significant (P<0.05) difference between males and females only at 16, 18 and 20 weeks of age, with values of 2316.2 vs 2121.9 g, 2624.3 vs 2378.1 g, and 3002.7 vs 2718.7g, respectively. There were no discernable differences between males and females for most body measurements except body length which was longer in the latter than former from 14 weeks of age. The asymptomatic weight (A) of the models revealed that Gompertz model had higher values for both male and female Noilers than the Logistic for body weight and all morphometric traits. The reverse was observed with the scale parameter 2 (B) and relative growth rate (C) for all traits. The coefficient of determination (R ) values for both models (male and female) were generally high (>80%) indicating a good fit for the data. The other goodness of fit criteria; Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and standard deviation (SD) were lower for the Gompertz compared to Logistic for both male and female. Thus, the study revealed that the Gompertz was the better model for explaining the growth patterns of both male and female Noiler chickens.     L'évaluation des caractéristiques de croissance des poulets de Noilers tels que déterminées par des algorithmes non linéaires fournira la meilleure fonction mathématique de la croissance des poulets de Noilers masculins et féminins. Cette étude a cherché à déterminer l'adéquation de deux fonctions mathématiques pour la modélisation des caractéristiques de croissance des poulets mâles et femelles Noiler. Les poids corporels et les traits morphométriques de 200 poulets nilaques ont été mesurés bimenshly pendant 20 semaines et les données obtenues dans les modèles de Gompertz et croissance logistiques utilisant la régression non linéaire. Les résultats ont montré une différence significative (p <0,05) entre les mâles et les femmes seulement à 16, 18 et 20 semaines, avec des valeurs de 2316,2 vs 2121,9 g, 2624.3 contre 2378,1 g et 3002,7 vs 2718.7g, respectivement. Il n'y avait pas de  différences discernables entre les hommes et les femmes pour la plupart des mesures du corps, à l'exception de la longueur du corps, ce qui était plus long que l'ancien de 14 semaines. Le poids asymptomatique (A) des modèles a révélé que le modèle de Gompertz avait des valeurs plus élevées pour les noilers mâles et femelles que la logistique pour le poids corporel et tous les traits morphométriques. L'inverse a été observé avec le paramètre d'échelle (B) et le taux de croissance relative (C) pour tous les traits. Le coefficient de valeurs de détermination (R ) pour les deux modèles (hommes et femmes) était généralement élevé (> 80%) indiquant un bon ajustement pour les données. L'autre bonté des critères d'ajustement; Le critère d'information Akaike (CIA) et l'écart type (ET) étaient plus bas pour le Gompertz par rapport à la logistique pour les hommes et les femmes. Ainsi, l'étude a révélé que le Gompertz était le meilleur modèle d'explication des schémas de croissance des poulets mâles et femelles Noilers.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the association between the body weight, carcass  characteristics and the testis measurements of the three matured cocks of about one year to one and half months of age in the semi arid zone of Nigeria. Sixty matured cocks were used for the study with twenty from each of the genotype. The data collected on the carcass characteristics of the three genotypes of cocks were analyzed using SPSS Version 21 Statistical tool. Differences between treatments means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test of the same software. The correlations between the different variables were determined using Pearson correlation. The results showed a positive correlation (P< 0.05) between live weight and the internal organs. Also positive significant (P<0.01) relationship were observed between body weight and the slaughter weight (r =0.97). Significant relationship between live weight and the left testis was observed (r =0.67: P<0.01). In conclusion, testis measurement with live weight showed that positive correlation translates into positive genetic correlation among the traits which will lead to improvement in the other traits. This variation may be due to close genetic background of the indigenous cocks