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Abstract. Ninety-six growing New Zealand rabbit bucks (male) and does (female) were randomly assigned to four treatment diets for a period of ninety (90) days. The treatments which contained 0% (T1) control, 5% (T2), 10% (T3) and 15% (T4) raw garlic flour meal were fed to the rabbits in a completely randomized design (CRD) to determine the growth performance, haematology and serum chemistry of the rabbits. The results on growth performance in both sexes showed significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups except for final body weights. T4 recorded the best values in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for both sexes. Results of hematological parameters (haemoglobin - Hb, Packed Cell Volume - PCV, Red Blood Cell - RBC, White Blood Cell –WBC, Mean Cell Volume - MCV, Mean Cell Haemoglobin - MCH and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration - MCHC) showed significant (p<0.05) difference for all the parameters evaluated except for red blood cells in both sexes. Haemoglobin values for both sexes were higher and better for the treatment groups in comparison with the control. For the serum chemistry (Total serum protein, Albumin, Globulin, Urea, Creatinine and Cholesterol) all the parameters showed significant (p<0.05) difference among the parameters examined except albumin for both sexes. However, globulin was also similar (p>0.05) for the male rabbits. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood cholesterol was recorded in rabbits fed the treatment diets. The study indicated that raw garlic floor could effectively be added to rabbit ration to improve the quality of the feed and the physiological condition of the animals.

A 30-day experiment was conducted with 240 unsexed broiler starters to determine the effect of cocoyam tuber meal on growth and serum mineral profile. Four diets were formulated at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of cocoyam tuber meal. The birds were assigned the four treatment diets in a completely randomized design and replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum. Data were collected on average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and blood was sampled from each treatment group, data obtained were analysed statistically. The performance of the broiler starter birds showed significant (p<0.05) difference among the treatment groups. Average daily weight gain was improved (p<0.05) by cocoyam inclusion at 30% inclusion level. FCR of the birds in treatment groups were significantly (p<0.05) better than the control. The parameters of serum mineral profile maintained a significant (P<0.05) difference among the treatments and showed a good evidence of body structural components of the birds. These results showed that inclusion of cocoyam tuber meal had a beneficial effect on performance and structural components of broiler starters. Cocoyam tuber meal inclusion level at 30% was recommended for optimum broiler starter birds.