Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has been the most promisingand high yielding fodder giving dry matter yields. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cutting intervals on the yield and nutrient composition of six cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) which is 3rd Generation Napier, India Napier, Kobe Napier, Red Napier, Taiwan Napier and Zanzibar Napier. The grasses were cut close to the ground levelto get a uniform stand on day 70 after planting and the cutting intervals were at 35 and 42 days and carried out for 3 times.After each harvest, the rates of maintenance fertiliser used were 150 kg of nitrogen, 60 kg of phosphorus and 100 kg of potassium per hectare per year. Harvested plant material was weighed, pre-dried in a forced-air drying oven at 60 °C overnight before grinding. Ground samples were used to determine dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF) and metabolised energy. The data were analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS™) followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. AP value of less than 0.05 (p<0.05) are considered statistically significant. Results showed that increasing the cutting interval (i.e. advancing age of maturity) increased dry matter and crude fibre significantly.However, in terms of nutrient content, crude protein and metabolised energy percentage was markedly decreased as thecutting interval increased. From the results presented, it is clear that cutting a stand of Napier grass at 35 days will achieve greater yield and nutrient content.

Palm kernel cake (PKC) has long been known to be an importantingredient for the formulation of animal feeds. However the recommended levels of inclusion seem to vary from one reporter to another. This factor is considered important especially when formulating feeds for nonruminant diets. The variation of its major constituents such as protein, fibre and fat contents is said to depend on the sources, oil removal technology and the efficiency of oil extraction from the kernel. For comparison,a set of compilation data of 300 local PKC samples from the past years on these basic nutritional constituents were studied.Majority of the samples analysed were from southern region of Peninsular Malaysia meant for animal feeds. Mean percentagevalues and their respective standard deviations were as follows; crude protein 16.1±1.65, crude fibre 19.3±4.22, crude ash5.9±2.48, ether extract 5.6±3.36, dry matter 91.3±2.65, and metabolisable energy 7.75 MJ/kg. The objective of the study was to observe the distribution pattern of these values compared to other surveys. From this study, the highest relative standarddeviation (RSD) reached 60% for ether extract, followed by ash 42.1%, and crude fibre 21.8%. From the variation point of view,periodical results for quality control of PKC must be initiated as an useful indicator for its accuracy of each diet formulation.

This study was done to assess oxidative stress and haematologicalparameters of twenty male goats aged between eight and 22 months of the West African Dwarf breed reared under twomanagement systems. Ten bucks were reared under an intensive system, and another 10 bucks reared under an extensivesystem were used. The Hb concentration obtained in both groups was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the intensively managedgoats (12.39±0.02 gm %) compared to the extensively managed group. The total erythrocyte count in intensive goats, 35.34±1.36×106/μl, was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the value recorded in the extensive group (30.01±1.41×106/μl). Therecorded leucocytes counts in intensive goats of 10.26±0.70×103/μl was significantly (p<0.05) lower than 12.38±1.23×103/μlrecorded in the extensively managed goat, while the calculated value of MCV in intensive goat (9.8±0.73 fl) was significantly(p<0.05) higher than the recorded value in extensive group. The obtained value of MCH was significantly higher (p<0.05) in theextensively managed goats. The recorded neutrophil value of 5.00±0.50×103/μl in extensively raised goats was significantly(p<0.05) higher than 3.70±0.20×103/μl obtained in the intensively raised group likewise the lymphocyte count of 5.60±0.08 ×103/μl in intensively raised goats was significantly (p<0.05) lower than the value obtained in the extensively raised goat. The neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the extensive versus the intensive group viz. 0.75±0.03 asagainst 0.67±0.04. In the extensive group a higher malondialdehyde (MDA) value of 2.30±0.07 ng/ml was recorded and this was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the corresponding value of 1.28±0.11 ng/ml obtained in the intensively managed goats. The recorded value of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly (p<0.05) higher in theextensive group than those on the intensive group. The fragility test of the extensively managed goats shifts more towards rightand was significantly (p<0.05) highest at a sodium chloride concentration of 0.2-0.7% in extensively managed goats. It can beconcluded from the present study that the biomarkers of oxidative stress were higher in the extensively than the intensively managed goats.