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A Feeding trial was conducted for sixteen weeks to evaluate nutrient utilization and growth performanceofcockerelsfedprocessedSennaobtusifoliamealbased-diets.Sixexperimental diets werecompounded tocontain 0%and20%eachoftheraw,boiled, soaked, sproutedand fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal designated T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. Data were collected on nutrient digestibility, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality. Poor nutrient digestibility for crude protein (45.18%), nitrogen free extract (42.39%) and ether extract (49.22%) were recorded in the group of cockerels fed raw Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. However, better nutrient digestibility for crude protein (76.23%), nitrogen free extract (67.62%) and ether extract (68.65%) digestibility was observed in the group of cockerel fed 0% Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet. Among the cockerels fed the processed Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diets, those fed the fermented Senna obtusifolia seed meal based-diet showed better crude protein (75.08%), ether extract (68.65%) nitrogen free exract (67.62%) and crude fibre (32.78%) digestibility. The result of productive performance revealed a significantly (P

There is a great need to determine the abundance and diversity of any ecosystems biodiversity through its species composition and richness. This study compared the diversity and abundance of bird (avifauna) species in three habitats of the Wildlife Park, Plateau State, Nigeria. The three vegetation types (Gallery, Savannah and the Rocky areas) were surveyed. Fifteen (15) line transects (five in each of the habitats) were laid in the morning and evening hours. The data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics (mean and percentages). Simpson's diversity index was also employed in assessing the diversity of avifauna species in the study area. The result obtained indicated that a total of 616, 569 and 363 birds were recorded in the morning hours while a total of 117, 140 and 115 were identified in the evening. The results of birds species diversity (morning and evening) indicated that transects II (0.5956) and I (0.7407) for Gallery forests, transects II (0.6946) and III (1.000) for Savannah V (0.0784) and I (0.0752) for Rocky habitats, respectively, had the highest birds diversity. It is recommended that pastoralists and Plateau State Government should liaise and provide alternative grazing reserves to minimize the encroachment of the pastoralists into the Park and other protected areas.

Twelve (12) indigenous browse plants harvested from four districts of Gombi Local Government, Adamawa State were evaluated for their proximate composition. The samples were randomly collected in the study and identified at the Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Adamawa State. The proximate composition of the collected samples was carried out at the Animal production Nutrition Laboratory of Adamawa University, Mubi. Parameters measured include dry matter (DM), crude fibre (CF), crude protein (CP), Ash (minerals). Nitrogen free extract (NFE) and ether extract (EE). Results obtained showed that DM ranged from 55.5%-80%, CF (23-68%), CP (7.88-19.25%), NFE (22.25-69.97%), EE (3.0-6.0%) and Ash (6.0-12.00%). The data obtained were used to determine the suitability of the browse plants species for ruminant animal production. Results revealed that nutrient contents in plant samples vary in composition.