This study was conducted with 600, seven day-old mixed Japanese quail chicks to investigate the effects of varying levels of turmeric rhizome powder (TRP) on growth parameters, carcass traits and organoleptic properties of the breast muscles. The chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary groups containing 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% TRP of sorghum-soybean based diet in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had six replicates of 20 birds each and was studied from 7-42 days of age. Growth performance (body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality), carcass characteristics (dressed weight, dressing percent, breast and gastrointestinal weights) and organoleptic properties (colour, flavor, juiciness, texture, number of chews, remains after and overall acceptability) were measured. One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis and significant means separated using the least significant difference methods. Inclusion of TRP in the diet increased (P<0.05) all growth parameters, especially at 0.50% inclusion without any adverse effect (P>0.05) on carcass traits. Mean scores for organoleptic evaluation of meat showed that TRP had no influence (P>0.05) quail breast muscle. This study concludes that TRP significantly improved growth without altering the carcass and organoleptic properties of breast muscle of Japanese quails. Dietary supplementation with 0.50% TRP is thus recommended for quails fed sorghum-soybean based diet.

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The experiment was conducted to determine the organ weight characteristics, carcass yield and cost benefits of Kano Brown goats fed cassava root sievate and cassava leaf meal (CRSCLM) based diets as supplement to (Pennisetum purpureum) using 36 Kano Brown goats of 8 to 10 months of age. Four diets T1, T2, T3, and T4, were formulated at the levels of 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% CRSCLM respectively in a completely randomized design. Each animal received a designated treatment diet in the morning for 97 days. Feed offered was based on 3.5% body weight per day; the animals in addition were fed a kg wilted chopped P. purpureum later in the day as basal diet to enhance rumination and fine chewing. Results on carcass indices showed significant (p<0.05) response on live weight at slaughter, empty carcass weight, warm carcass weight, dressing percentage, shoulder, leg, loin, end and shank with T4 having relatively best results. The dressing percentage was numerically (49.59%) best at T4. On the offal weights, head and full guts were significantly (p<0.05) improved for T4 and T1 goats. The organ characteristic proved the safety of using CRSCLM through the significantly (p<0.05) lower organ weights at T4 goats. Cost per kg feed, feed cost/weight gain and cost/benefit ratio were positively influenced (p<0.05) at T4 with expected income of 4.79 / 1 invested. It could therefore be concluded that Kano Brown goats fed 60% CRSCLM had the best carcass and organ yields at a reduced feed cost.