Day-old pullets (Hisex-strain Leghorn) were fed a starter ration ad libitum to 10 weeks of age. Individually weighed at 9 weeks of age they were sorted into 3 weight groups. Treatment 1, from the smallest weight group, was full-fed from 10 to 19 weeks of age. Treatment 3, from the middle third, was full-fed initially then restricted as necessary to maintain the recommended weight. Treatment 4, from the heaviest third, was restricted to attain the recommended weight at 19 weeks of age. Treatments 2 and 5 represented random samples of equal numbers from each weight. Pullets in treatments 2 and 5 were full-fed and restricted-fed, respectively.Differences which existed among the mean weights of treatments 1,3, and 4 at 9 weeks of age decreased to 15 g at 19 weeks. At 19 weeks of age the pullets in these treatments averaged 80.7% to 84.0 ± 10% of the average weight.At 19 weeks of age, 96 pullets per treatment were further divided into eight replicates and transferred to layer cages. Pullets in treatment 4 (heaviest third, restricted-fed) were significantly older when reaching 10 and 50% production than were pullets in treatments 1, 2, and 3. The mean egg weights of pullets in treatments 4 and 5 were larger (P<.01) than those from the other treatments.Differences among treatments in hen-day production, gram of egg per hen day, grams of feed per gram of egg, feed per hen day, Haugh units, shell thickness, and mortality were not significant. (

The crude protein (CP) ether extract (EE), acid detergent fibre, (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg) and Copper (Cu) degradability profiles of two legume forages (Tephrosia bracteolata and Stylosanthes hamata), two agricultural by-products (wheat ofsal and Rice bran) and Adansonia digitata (Baobab) bark that usually form part of feed materials commonly used in compounding small ruminant concentrate seed were estimated using nylon-bag technique, based on 5x 5 factorial arrangements in randomized complete block design in 2-way classification Factor A was the different feedstuffs (Tephrosia, Stylo, Baobak bark, Whear offal and Rice bran) while factor B was the different incubation periods (0, 6, 12, 24 and 48h) using individual animal as replicate. Results indicated that as incubation periods increased, the extent of disappearance of the test nutrients of each sample increased while the rate of degradation of each sample varied according/y: The trends of the extent of nutrient disappearance were in the following order: CP: Tephrosia (15.2 +0.14%) > Wheat offal (13.10+0.13%) > Stylo (12.24+0.36)> Rice bran (5.76 + 0.09%) > Baobab bark (3.05 +0.33%) EE: Stylo (9.53 + 0.2296) > Rice bran (5.74 +0.27%) > Wheat offal (2.13 +0.34%)= Baobab bark /2.13 + 0.33%)> Tephrosia (0.35 +0.7394). ADF: Rice bran (53.94 + 7.21%)> Baobab bark (46.87 + 5.34%)> Stylo (34.37+3.07%)> Tephrosia (31.01+4.46%)>Wheat offal (27.50 + 2.0896). NDF: Rice bran (58.11+6.29%)>Baobab bark (47.26+7.12%)>Tephrosia (44.14+3.05%)>Stylo (40.46+3.2296)>Wheat offal (25.29+4.21%) Ca: Tephrosia (0.855+0.18%)> Stylo (0.843+0.19%)> Rice bran (0.308+0.09%)> Wheat offal (0.204+0.04%)>Baobab bark (0.140+0.09%). P: Wheat offal (3.09+0.26%)> Rice bran (1.95+0,10%)> Baobab bark (0.76+0.21%)>Stylo (0.45+0.19%)> Tephrosia (0.09+0.01%). Mg: Tephrosia (0.495+0.31%)>Rice bran (0.234+0.21%)>Wheat offal (0.179+0.30%)>Stylo (0.160+0.23%)>Baobab bark (0.1/6+0.23%) Cu! Stylo (46.65+8. 1796)>Rice bran (37.79+4.7%)>Baobab hark (26.89+2.6%)>Tephrosia (18.51+2.70%)>Wheat ofsal (11.44+2.8%). Baobab bark was the least and slowest in the extent and rate of nutrients released into the rumen. Rice bran was also the second highest in terms of fast release of EE, P, Mg and Cu into the rume, suggesting that it can supply a reasonable level of EE, P, Mg and Cu, in addition to fastest release of +DF and NDF when fed or included in the concentrate supplement for ruminants. Wheat offal is also reasonably rich in crude protein and phosphorus. The two agricultural by-products are therefore good sources of nutrients for ruminants. The two legume forages (Tephrosia and Stylo) are fairly richer in CP, EE, Ca, Mg and Cw than other feedstuffs and they readily released their nutrients faster, and to a larger extent, than other feedstuffs. The inclusion of the two forages in the concentrate supplement, or fed as hay or silage can therefore be recommended in ruminant production, particularly when fast release of the nutrients is required while Baobab bark can be recommended when slow release of nutrient will be beneficial to the requirement of the animal