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Goats are kept primarily for meat in Nigeria, their body weight and body dimensions are important carcass trait of interest. Several approaches have been adopted to utilize body weight and linear body measurement in predicting carcass composition in goats. However this information on prediction of carcass composition from body weight and linear body measurements is limited for goats raised in the southern region of Nigeria. A study was conducted to determine the relationship between live body weight, linear body measurements and carcass characteristics of West African dwarf (WAD) goats and Red Sokoto (RS) goats. Live body weight (LBW), Heart girth (HG), Body depth (BD), Rump height (RH), Height at wither (HW) and Body length (BL) were the linear body measurements. Neck, hind limbs, head, slaughtered weight; empty carcass, fore limb and warm carcass were measured for carcass traits. Internal offals weighed were spleen, liver, lung, heart, kidney and empty gut. Twenty West African Dwarf goats ( 10 males and 10 females weighed 15.00 ± 0.10kg and 14.25 ± 0.50kg respectively) and twenty Red Sokoto ( 10 males and 10 females weighed 21.80 ± 0.67kg and 20.50 ± 0.12kg respectively)between the ages of 2-3 years were used for this study. Data obtained were analyzed using t-test, correlation analysis and multiple regressions. Results showed that the mean live body weight of WAD goats and RS goats were 14.63±0.46 and 21.13±0.36, respectively. Average linear body measurements of WAD and RS goats showed significant (p<0.05) differences in all the parameters except BL with RS goats having higher values . Average carcass traits of the two breeds of goats were significantly (p<0.05) different in hind limb, slaughtered weight and fore limb weight in favour of RS goats. Internal edible offal weight of both breeds differed significantly (p<0.05) in spleen, heart and kidney. There were significant positive correlations (P<0.001) between live body weight and linear body measurements in both breeds Strong and positive significant correlation (P<0.05) were also observed between 2 linear body measurement and most of the carcass traits measured. The highest R values in both breeds of goat were obtained when all the body measurements were included in the regression equations. It can be concluded that the correlation between linear body measurements can serve as selection criteria in improving carcass traits for better meat production. Moreso, carcass traits could be estimated more accurately by combination of two or more linear measurements.     Les chèvres sont élevées principalement pour la viande au Nigéria, leur poids corporel et leurs dimensions corporelles sont d'importants traits de carcasse intéressants. Plusieurs approches ont été adoptées pour utiliser le poids corporel et la mesure linéaire du corps dans la prédiction de la composition de la carcasse chez les chèvres. Cependant, ces informations sur la prédiction de la composition de la carcasse à partir du poids corporel et des mesures corporelles linéaires sont limitées pour les chèvres élevées dans la région sud du Nigéria. Une étude a été menée pour déterminer la relation entre le poids vif, les mesures corporelles linéaires et les caractéristiques de la carcasse des chèvres West African Dwarf (WAD) et des chèvres Red Sokoto (RS). Le poids vif (LPV), la circonférence du cœur (CC), la profondeur du corps (PC), la hauteur de la croupe (HC), la hauteur au garrot (HG) et la longueur du corps (LC) étaient les mesures corporelles linéaires. Cou, membres postérieurs, tête, poids abattu ; la carcasse vide, le membre antérieur et la carcasse chaude ont été mesurés pour les caractéristiques de la carcasse. Les abats internes pesés étaient la rate, le foie, les poumons, le cœur, les reins et l'intestin vide. Vingt chèvres de West African Dwarf (10 mâles et 10 femelles pesaient respectivement 15,00 ± 0,10 kg et 14,25 ± 0,50 kg) et vingt Red Sokoto (10 mâles et 10 femelles pesaient respectivement 21,80 ± 0,67 kg et 20,50 ± 0,12 kg) âgés de 2 ans -3 ans ont été utilisés pour cette étude. Les données obtenues ont été analysées à l'aide d'un test t, d'une analyse de corrélation et de régressions multiples. Les résultats ont montré que le poids vif moyen des chèvres WAD et des chèvres RS était de 14,63 ± 0,46 et 21,13 ± 0,36, respectivement. Les mesures corporelles linéaires moyennes des chèvres WAD et RS ont montré des différences significatives (p<0,05) dans tous les paramètres sauf LC, les chèvres RS ayant des valeurs plus élevées . Les traits de carcasse moyens des deux races de chèvres étaient significativement (p < 0,05) différents pour les membres postérieurs, le poids à l'abattage et le poids des membres antérieurs en faveur des chèvres RS. Le poids interne des abats comestibles des deux races différait significativement (p<0,05) dans la rate, le cœur et les reins. Il y avait des corrélations positives significatives (P<0,001) entre le poids vif et les mesures corporelles linéaires dans les deux races. Une corrélation significative positive et forte (P<0,05) a également été observée entre la mesure corporelle linéaire et la plupart des traits de carcasse mesurés. Les valeurs R les plus élevées dans les deux races de chèvres ont été obtenues lorsque toutes les mesures corporelles ont été incluses dans les équations de régression. On peut conclure que la corrélation entre les mesures corporelles linéaires peut servir de critère de sélection pour améliorer les caractéristiques de la carcasse pour une meilleure production de viande. De plus, les traits de carcasse pourraient être estimés avec plus de précision en combinant deux ou plusieurs mesures linéaires

Animal milk has been an outstanding balanced food for man, and a very good source of protein to man. The bulk of milk consumed in Nigeria is imported. An experiment was conducted with twelve lactating West African dwarf does that were at their second parity using graded levels (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%) of boiled rubber seed meal to investigate their colostrum and normal milk yield and proximate compositions. The rubber seeds were boiled for 30 minutes, dehulled and dried for three days before being milled and used alongside cassava peels, brewer dried grain, palm kernel cake, bone meal and salt to formulate boiled rubber seed meal based diet. The twelve does were individually housed in a well ventilated cement floored pen with wood shaving as bedding material. 1 kg of the concentrate diet designated as A, B, C and D were randomly assigned to the four treatment groups. The diets were supplied to the does in wooden feeding trough at 0800 hour in the morning while 2 kg of Panicum maximum was fed to the does by 1400 hours daily. The does were fed with the concentrate diet at the beginning of their last month of pregnancy and through to the 55th day of post-partum. The kids were weighed on their first day of parturition. Colostrum was collected, weighed and samples stored at -5oC in a refrigerator for constituent analysis, but certain sample of colostrum was also used for lactose analysis daily. The lactating does were hand milked once in the morning and a constant 0.6596 was used as a weighing factor on the morning yield using S=M+0.6596M as correcting factor. Prior to each day milking, kids were separated from the dams from 1800 hour and fed with the aid of feeding bottle. Colostrum and normal milk samples were analysed for crude protein, (Nx6.38), lactose, total solids, solid-not-fat, butterfat, ash and energy. Lactose was analysed using Marier and Boulet procedures. Butterfat was determined by Kjeldahl and Markhaps apparatus while solid-not-fat was obtained from the differences between butterfat and total solids. Energy was computed using multiple regression equation. AOAC method was used to determine the proximate composition of the experimental diets. There was no significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups (A, B, C, D) in their colostrum yield (66.75, 77.69, 73.67 and 69.33), total solids (17.24, 17.39, 16.47 and 16.99) and butterfat (4.90, 4.90, 4.88 and 4.85) respectively. But CP, SNF, lactose, ash and energy had significant differences (P>0.05) in their colostrum with treatment D having superior value (6.87%) compared to A (6.58%), B (6.50%) and C (6.44%). The CP value increases as the BRSM increases in diet. All parameters in normal milk were statistically similar in their values, but treatment B (10% BRSM) expressed superior value among the treatment groups. In this study, 30%BRSM promoted least milk yield while 10%BRSM promoted highest milk yield. Therefore, 10% inclusion level of BRSM is recommended for lactating WAD does for high milk yield.

Ninety six unsexed day old Marshall broiler chickens were divided into 4 groups of 3 replicates each on weight equalization basis (42.87 – 43.24g). The chicks were used to determine the effect of partial replacement of maize with combinations of palm kernel cake (PKC), yam peel meal (YPM) and plantain peel meal (PPM) in broiler starter diets. Four broiler starter diets were formulated such that diet T1 (control) contained 54% maize. Diets T2, T3 and T4 contained PKC, YPM and PPM in the ratios, 1:1:2, 1: 2:1 and 1: 1: 2 replacing 50% of maize. The chick groups were each randomly assigned to one of the experimental broiler starter diets in a completely randomised design (CRD) experiment. The feed and water were offered ad libitum. Results indicated that birds on diet T4 recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher (861.63g) body weight gain than those on other diets. Feed intake followed similar trend with birds on diet T1 recording significantly (p<0.05) lower (1564.63g) value than other groups. Feed conversion ratio was comparable (p>0.05) for all groups while feed cost savings relative to the control diet ranged from 23.51 – 24.51%. Birds on diets T4 recorded the lowest feed cost per kg body weight gain. It is concluded that combinations of PKC, YPM and PPM could safely replace 50% of maize in broiler starter diet with 1: 1: 2 combination ratio producing a superior performance.