The aim of the study was to assess the milk yield and composition of dairy cattle of different locations during dry season in selected dairy farms in Kano state. One hundred and twenty lactating cows (different stages of lactation) include Bunaji, Bokoloji, Fresian x Bunaji were used, ten from each twelve dairy farms to assess milk yield and composition. Daily milk yield was recorded for two months. Five milk samples from each farm were analysed for its composition. Danbatta farm was the best in average daily milk yield (ADMY) of 3.86l, Dantube farm was the lowest of 2.49l which differ (p<0.001), Imawa arewa, Asibitin tafasa and Lautaye farms didn’t vary other farms differ. Fat(%) did not vary in all the farms, TS(%) Total solid, TA(%) Titrable acidity, CP(%) Crude protein, Ash(%), SNF(%) Solid non fat differ (p<0.001). Tsaunin fulani farm was the best in Fat(%) 4.26, Asibitin tafasa farm was the lowest of 3.84. Lautaye was the best in TS(%) 57.2, Dakatsalle was the lowest of 38.8. Imawa arewa was the best TA(%) of 0.38, Dakatsalle, Kuki and shinkafi farms are the lowest of 0.29. Imawa arewa, Danbatta and Kwanar dumawa farms are the best in CP(%) 4.24, Kuki farm was the lowest of 3.46. Dantube farm was the best in Ash(%) of 0.54, Dakatsalle, Kuki are the lowest of 0.32. Lautaye was the best in SNF(%) 52.96, Dakatsalle farm was the lowest of 34.6. Fat(%) differ (p<0.05), TS(%) (p<0.001) among the breeds while their ADMY, TA(%), CP(%), Ash(%), SNF(%) did not vary. Bunaji was the best in Fat(%) of 4.22, TS(%) 50.2, SNF(%) 45.74 with ADMY of 2.74l. Fresian x Bunaji was superior in CP(%) 4.24, lowest in Fat(%) 3.88, Ash(%) 0.44, TS(%) 39.2, SNF(%) 35.32 with the best ADMY of 4.01l. Bokoloji was superior in Ash(%) of 0.47 lowest in TA(%) 0.31 with ADMY of 2.67l. Therefore, Danbatta farm, Fresian x Bunaji with the best milk yield, Tsaunin fulani farm with the best Fat(%), Lautaye farm TS(%), Imawa arewa TA(%), Imawa arewa, Danbatta and Kwanar dumawa farms CP(%), Dantube farm Ash(%), Lautaye farm SNF(%), Bunaji breed with the best Fat(%), TS(%), TA(%), SNF(%), Bokoloji breed Ash(%), Fresian x Bunaji CP(%) was recommended. Milk yield and composition varied between dairy breeds, herds of the same breed and even between individual cows of a breed.

Experiment was carried out to evaluate the response of growing Yankasa rams to complete sorghum stover based diets containing varying levels of different nitrogen sources with rumen buffer plant on digestible organic matter fermented in the rumen (DOMR), microbial nitrogen (MN) and rumen metabolites. Complete diets containing 16% crude protein (CP) was formulated for the experiment. Urea was incorporated into the diets at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% with cottonseed cake at 20, 15, 10, 5 and 0% and designated as diet 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% respectively. Twenty growing Yankasa rams were used for the experiment and randomly allocated to five treatment groups of four animals each in completely randomized designed (CRD). Rams were fed experimental diets and water ad libitum. The result reveals (P<0.05) difference in DOMR and MN. Higher mean values of 0.37, 0.36 and 0.34 kg/d DOMR were recorded in animal fed diet 2, 3 and 5 with the least value 0.22 kg/day recorded in animals fed diet 4. MN production were higher 11.72, 11.65 and 10.81 g/day in animals fed diet 2, 3 and 5 while the least 7.03 g/day in animals fed diet 4. (P<0.05) difference were observed in rumen pH 0 hour before feeding, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), acetate, propionate, butyrate and rumen NH3-N 0 hour before and 4 hours after feeding across the diets. NH3-N was within the optimal levels for microbial activities. Inclusion of urea at graded levels of up to 2% in a complete diet has no detrimental effect on performance, DOMR, MN production and rumen parameters. Diet 3 is therefore recommended for growing Yankasa rams.

The study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive performance of layer chickens fed dietary levels of sorghum ICSV400 variety. Five (5) diets (17% CP) were formulated, in which the sorghum variety ICSV 400 was included at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels and the diets designated as treatments T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. Sorghum was used to replace maize as a dietary energy source. The study used 400 Shika brown points of lay pullets allotted to five (5) treatments which were replicated four (4) times each with 20 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). After flushing for seven (7) days using the experimental diets, initial weights of the birds in each replicate were recorded. Records of feed intake, number of eggs laid with egg mass was taken on daily basis. The initial weights of layers were similar statistically and ranged from 1.65-1.74 kg. Daily feed intake (DFI) was significantly affected by the dietary treatments with the values varying between 111.00 and 123.00 g. The feed consumption and number of eggs laid increased with the increase in levels of sorghum variety ICSV400. The highest percent hen day production was observed in birds on diet 5 (100% ICSV400) which was significantly different from the remaining diets. The henhouse percent egg production (HHPP) was also better on diet 5 (100 % ICSV400) and significantly (P<0.001) differ with the rest of the four (4) diets. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was better (1.71) on diet 1 (control) and the lowest on diet 5 (100% ICSV400) which differ significantly (P<0.01) among the five (5) treatments. It was concluded that ICSV400 sorghum is suitable and safe as an energy source in layer diets and can completely (100%) replace maize without negative effects on any of the performance parameters. It is recommended that ICSV400 sorghum variety is suitable source of energy in the diets of layer chickens.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the response of growing Yankasa rams to urea-treated or untreated millet Stover based supplements during early raining season grazing on haematological parameters and rumen metabolites. A total of 20Yankasa rams were used for the experiments in a completely randomized design with five treatments of four animals each in replicate. Five different supplements were formulated to contained 12% CP from urea-treated or urea untreated millet Stover and other ingredients with feed additive. Supplement 1 had urea untreated millet stover, while 2, 3, 4 and 5 contained urea-treated millet stover at 1, 2, 3, and 4% respectively with feed additive in experiment 4. Animals were offered their respective supplement at 400g per head per day (200g each in the morning and evening) and thereafter allowed to graze the available forages. The experiments lasted for 84 days. Result of the experiment revealed RBC and MCH differs significantly (P<0.05) across the diets. Rumen NH3-N was significantly (P<0.05) higher 51.34 and 61.18 mg/dl before and after feeding in animals fed supplement 1 than 42.06 and 52.66 mg/dl in that fed supplement 4 respectively. It is therefore concluded that all supplements had not detrimental effect on blood and rumen parameters. It is recommended that supplement with urea-untreated millet stover can be fed to Yankasa rams during raining season.