Technico-economic analysis of densified feed on the growth performance of red bucks of Maradi (Niger Republic) ABSTRACT A study of influence of densified feed on the growth performance of red buck of Maradi was conducted from July to September 2016. Forty-two (42) red bucks were divided randomly into six blocks of seven buks. Each block corresponds to a diet formulated using crushed ingredients and the individual buck is considered as replication. The animals were allocated to individual pen. The adaptation period and data collection were 14 and 56 days respectively. Five treatments namely T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 differed basis on type and proportion of roughages, were compared with the control (T0) which is the farmers' formulation.The treatments T0, T3 M. MALAM ABDOU et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 11(1): 280-292, 2017 281 and T1 gave the best daily live weight gain of 78.3, 51.8 and 50.9 g respectively.The feed consumption index (FCI) were 7.1, 10.3 and 10.6 for T0, T3 and T1 respectively. Economically, T0 gave net profit of 1373 FCFA per animal followed by T1 and T3 with 1316 and 1311 FCFA respectively.This experiment showed that improved sorghum stover could replace groundnut and cowpea haulms in goats feeding.

11643Estimated yields and economic profitability for the production of three crops : sorghum, cowpea and dolic to Djirataoua (Maradi, Niger Republic)ABSTRACT Objectives : Production test on sorghum, cowpeas and dolic peas was conducted in 2014 on an irrigated perimeter of Djirataoua. It aimed to estimate forage and grain yields, chemical analysis of forage and evaluate the economic profitability of the three crops.Methodology and results : The test was set in a randomized complete block design with three plots in four replicates. The basic plot had a size of 5m x 100m. The agronomic data was collected on the growth cycle of crops, while economic data covered the cost of inputs, labor costs for the work and prices of various products and by-products obtained at harvest. Fodder and grain yields were evaluated. For fodder, the results obtained were 8.6 ± 0.7 tons ha-1 DM, 5.6 ± 0.74 tons ha-1 DM and 4 ± 0.74 tons ha-1 DM respectively for Sorghum, cowpea and dolic peas. Grain yields were 3.4 ± 0.65 tons ha-1 for sorghum, 1.2 ± 0.65 tons ha-1 for cowpea, and dolic peas yield is zero because it is a photosensitive plant. Chemical analysis of the biomass showed that the three crops had a comparable DM content, whereas cowpeas and dolic peas were richer in total nitrogenous matter (TNM) than sorghum. The content of TNM is 8% for sorghum; it is double in cowpea and triple in dolic peas. Conclusion and applications of results:This study shows that the dual-purpose crops, sorghum and cowpea provide an important forage yield meaning a high density and good soil fertility and good crop maintenance. This can be a cure for the chronic fodder deficit in Niger and will increase livestock productivity and farmers' income.