Summary The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of four genotypes and four different quantitative feeding regimes on the post-weaning average feed intake (AFI), body weight (BW), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 48 unsexed weaner rabbits. At weaning, a total of 3 rabbits from each genotype considered, namely the purebred Chinchilla and New Zealand White (CH x CH, NZW x NZW) and their reciprocal crossbreds (CH x NZW, NZW x CH), were randomly assigned to four feeding regimes: ad libitum concentrate + ad libitum forage (A), ad libitum concentrate + 30% restricted forage (B), 30% restricted concentrate + ad libitum forage (C), and 30% restricted concentrate + 30% restricted forage (D). The data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design appropriate for a 4x4 factorial experiment. The experiment was conducted over a period of 5 weeks: from 7 to 11 weeks post-weaning. The AFI values obtained from the interactions between CH x CH and the C feeding regime at 7 weeks post-weaning (366.50 ± 1.50 g), and between NZW x NZW and the B feeding regime at 8 weeks (324.00 ± 1. 00 g) and 10 weeks post-weaning (336.50 ± 0.00 g) were similar, but differed significantly (P < 0.05) from the rest. The lowest significant AFI values (P < 0.05) at all ages and FCR values (3.46 ± 0.33) at 9 weeks post-weaning were obtained from NZW x NZW, whereas the highest BW values at 9-11 weeks post-weaning was obtained from CH x CH. The lowest significant AFI values (P < 0.05) were recorded in the B feeding regime at 7-11 weeks post-weaning, as well as the highest BW and WG values in the A feeding regime at 8–11 and 11 weeks post-weaning, respectively. Moreover, the highest significant BW values (781.25 ± 7.83) were recorded in the C feeding regime at 7 weeks post-weaning. It was concluded that the interactions between CH x CH and the C feeding regime and between NZW x NZW and the B feeding regime can significantly reduce the overall feed intake, thus invariably increasing profit in rabbit production.

The gut histological traits, gut micro-flora and growth parameters of boiler birds fed different inclusion levels of sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal was investigated. A total of 320 one-day "Arbor acre strain" broiler chicks were allotted to 10 dietary treatments with 4 replicates of 8 birds each. The treatments includes : T1 = Basal diet (BD: Negative control); T2 = BD + 1g/Kg diet of Oxytetracycline (positive control); T3 = BD+2g sodium butyrate (SB) /kg diet; T4 = BD+4g SB/Kg diet; T5 = BD + 2.5g rosemary leaf meal (RLM) /kg diet; T6 = BD +5.0g RLM/kg diet; T7 = BD +2g SB + 2.5g RLM/kg diet; T8 = BD + 2g SB +5.0g RLM/kg diet; T9 = BD + 4g SB + 2.5g RLM/kg diet; and T10 = BD + 4g SB + 5.0g RLM/kg diet. The results showed that birds fed T3, T4, and T5 had the highest (p<0.05) body weight with an improved feed conversion ratio in both trial phases (starter and finisher). During the starter phase, the highest (p<0.05) villus length, crypth depth, thickness of the epithelium, thickness of muscularis in duodenum, jejunum and ileum was recorded for birds fed T4. During the finisher phase, the villus length, crypt depth, thickness of epithelium and muscularis of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were higher (p<0.05) for birds fed 4g/ kg sodium butyrate and 5g/kg rosemary leaf meal (except for crypth depth of jejunum and ileum). At the end of the starter phase, the data for the Lactobacillus counts of the ileum was highest (p<0.05) for birds fed dietary 4g/kg sodium butyrate and 5g/kg rosemary leaf meal, while, the Lactobacillus counts of the caecum was highest (p<0.05) for birds fed 4g/kg sodium butyrate, 2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal and 5g/kg rosemary leaf meal. The highest (p<0.05) E.coli and Salmonella populations in both ileum and caecum during the starter phase was seen in birds fed the negative control diet. At the end of the finisher phase, the highest (p<0.05) proliferation of Lactobacillus in the ileum section of the gut was recorded for birds fed 2g/kg diet sodium butyrate, 4g/kg sodium butyrate, 2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal, 5g/kg rosemary leaf meal and 4g/kg sodium butyrate +2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal, while Lactobacillus counts in the caecum was highest (p<0.05) for birds fed 2g/kg diet sodium butyrate, 4g/kg sodium butyrate, 2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal and 5g/ kg rosemary leaf meal. The populations of Lactobacillus were lowest (p<0.05) in both ileum and caecum parts of the gut for birds fed negative control (T1) diet, while the E.coli and Salmonella counts in the caecum were highest (p<0.05) for birds fed the negative control (T1) diet compared with other dietary treatments. It was concluded that T4 and T6 had a better gut integrity and improved histological traits. Moreover, 2g/kg diet sodium butyrate, 4g/kg sodium butyrate or 2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal can be used safely for a better performance as they enhanced the growth traits of the birds.

A 16-week study was conducted to determine the effect of three strains of Lactobacillus sp based probiotics on hematological indices and serum lipid profile of local toms. A total of 80-day-old local male poults were randomly assigned to four treatments (T1, T2, T3 and T4) in a completely randomized design with 20 birds per treatment. Three strains of Lactobacillus namely L. delbrueckii sub sp. bulgaricus, L. acidophilus and L. sporogens were incorporated in the drinking water of T2, T3, and T4 respectively at 0.5 ml/L. T1 served as control. Each treatment was replicated twice with 10 birds per replicate. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Results showed that the effect of the different strains of Lactobacillus sp. on hemoglobin, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins were significant (p < 0.05) . Birds on probiotics inclusion had least values for white blood cell counts, low-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and serum triglycerides with T4 recording the most superior values. It was thus concluded that of the three strains of Lactobacillus sp based probiotics used in the study, Lactobacillus sporogens was observed to support superior hematological values with reduced lipid profiles.

T HE effect of sodium butyrate and rosemary leaf meal inclusion on immunoglobulin and oxidative status in breast meat of Arbor Acre broiler birds was investigated. The day-old chicks (n=320) were randomly allotted to 10 dietary treatments that had four replications of 8 birds each. The dietary treatments were allocated as follows : T1= basal diet (BD), T2 = basal diet + 1g/kg Oxytetracycline , T3= BD +2g/kg Sodium butyrate (SB), T4= basal diet +4g SB/ kg, T5 = basal diet + 2.5g/kg rosemary leaf meal (RLM), T6= BD +5.0g/kg RLM , T7= BD +2g/kg SB + 2.5g/kg RLM, T8= BD + 2g/kg SB +5.0g/kg RLM, T9= BD + 4g/kg SB + 2.5g/kg RLM and T10= BD + 4g/kg SB + 5.0g/kg RLM. Results showed that birds fed T1 recorded the lowest (p<0.05) IgM and IgA values at both phases. The concentration of IgM and IgA for birds fed T4 and T6 were higher (p<0.05) compared with those in other groups. Birds fed T4 and T6 recorded the highest (p<0.05) values for superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase at both phases when compared with the control groups. At the starter phase, the values for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was lowest (p<0.05) in the meat of birds in all the supplemental groups when compared with those of birds in the control groups. It was concluded that; 4 g/kg SB and 5 g/ kg RLM supplementation improved the immunoglobulin markers and oxidative status of breast meat in broiler birds.

The study was conducted to investigate the growth performance of broiler birds fed varying dietary levels of Artemisia annua. A total of 90 broiler chickens (Arbor Acre strain) were used. The study lasted for eight weeks. At the starter phase, 90 fourteen-day old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five groups and fed starter diets containing five levels of A. annua (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g per kg of diet, respectively). At the finisher phase, 90 forty-two-day old finisher broilers were randomly allocated to five groups and fed finisher diets containing five levels of A. annua (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g per kg of diet, respectively). Each group was replicated three times with six birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Parameter measured includes body weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. The result of the proximate composition showed that Artemisia annua leaf meal contained 10.50% moisture, 26.27% crude protein, 5.00% crude fibre, 9.60% ash, 2.00% ether extract and 46.63% nitrogen-free extract. The result showed that at the starter phase, the inclusion of varying levels of A. annua in the starter diets had significant (p < 0.05) effect on the final body weight (FBW) of birds. Birds fed diet 2 (diet containing 50g of A. annua per kg diet) had significantly (p<0.05) higher final body weight (FBW) value (1115.00g) than those fed diet 5 (diet containing 200g of A. annua per kg of diet) which had FBW value of 915.00g. Dietary treatments had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on average daily feed intake (ADFI), total weight gain (TWG), average daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficient ratio(PER) of the birds. At the finisher phase, significant (p < 0.05) differences existed among treatments in ADWG, TWG, FBW and ADFI. Birds fed diet containing 50 g A. annua per kg diet had significantly (p < 0.05) higher ADWG, TWG and FWG values than those fed the control diet. However, no significant (p > 0.05) differences existed among treatments in FCR and PER. It is concluded that A. annua leaf meal can be included in the diet of starter and finisher broilers at 200g per kg of diet without any deleterious effect on the growth performance of birds.