Egg Production of two Nigerian Local chicken Ecotypes under improved Management
Abstract
The Nigerian local chickens were conceptually categorized on the basis of body weight and body size into two groups namely, “heavy” ecotype and “light” ecotype. The ecotypes were evaluated for egg production under improved management conditions using fifty point of lay (POL) pullets of each ecotype placed individually per cell in a two-tier battery cages. Hen-day egg production was monitored for 52 weeks. Other parameters evaluated include egg number, egg weight and egg mass. Egg number, egg weight and egg mass were each divided into part-period (first 3 months of lay), residual period (12 months minus the first 3 months of lay) and total or annual period production. Results showed an average hen-day percentage production of 38.0 and 40.11 for the “heavy” and “light” ecotypes, respectively. Total annual egg number, egg weight and egg mass for the “heavy” ecotype was 135.69 eggs, 40.34 g and 5740.85 g, respectively. The corresponding values for the “light” ecotype were 144.19 eggs, 37.32 g and 5008.21 g. The “heavy” ecotype did not differ (p > 0.05) from the “light” ecotype in hen-day production, egg number and egg mass except in egg weight. The “heavy” ecotype produced significantly (P < 0.05) heavier eggs than the “light” ecotypes.
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