ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of feeds (cotton seed cake, yeast supplement, cow milking ration) and seasonal variation (dry and rainy season) on dairy milk yield. A total of 21 mid lactation cows were fed with cotton seed cake, yeast supplement and cow milking ration in the two seasons respectively   and   the   volume   of   milk   produced   by   each   cow   was  recorded   for   each   of   the treatments. The information were analyzed using the procedures for a crossed nested design,mean milk yield was found to be significant different among treatments with p<0.05, however,highest milk yield was recorded when cows were fed with cow milking ration. Also milk yield was significantly different between the two seasons, yield was found to be more in rainy season.The research showed that there were no significant interaction between feeds with seasons and feeds with lactation period (p>0.05). The result concluded that milk yield was highest when dairy cattle were fed with cow milking ration supplement and yield is best in rainy season.

TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE.. i

DECLARATION....... ii

CERTIFICATION... iii

DEDICATION......... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............. v

ABSTRACT... vi

TABLE OF CONTENT.............. vii

LIST OF TABLES.....vii

LIST OF FIGURES..viii

CHAPTER ONE: Background of the Study..1

1.1 Background of the Study1

1.2 Introduction to the Field of Experiment........2

1.3 Experimental Design and Effects of Feeds and seasons on milk production3

1.4 Statement of Problem.....4

1.5 Significance of the Study..................4

1.6 Aim and Objectives of the Study......4

1.7 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).......5

1.8 General Purpose of ANOVA............5

1.8.1 Testing of Assumption6

1.8.2 Things to consider when running an ANOVA6

1.9 Principles Guiding Design and Analysis of Experiment................7

1.10 Definition of Terms........7

1.11 Milk Production.10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW......11

2.1 Review of Nested Design................11

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY.16

3.1 Introduction...16

3.2 Nested or Hierarchical Design........16

3.2.1    Description....16

3.3 Crossed Nested Design18

3.4 Concept of Statistical Hypothesis...19

3.5 Mean Comparison (Post-Hoc Test).21

3.6 Least Significant Difference (LSD)22

3.7 Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT)....22

3.8 Data Presentation.........23

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS.26

4.1 Introduction...26

4.2 Hypothesis Testing.......26

4.3 Presentation and Interpretations of Result..27

4.3.1    Analysis of Variance Result for the Crossed Nested Design...27

4.3.2    Interpretation of the Analysis of Variance Result.27

4.3.3   Mean Comparison Test...............28

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............31

5.1 Summary.......31

5.2 Conclusion....31

5.3 Recommendations........32

REFERENCES....... 33