Interaction of breeds, years, age of bird and pen effects on hen day lay of three layer breeds and their adaptation in the derived Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria
Journal Title: Extreme Life, Biospeology & Astrobiology - International Journal of the Bioflux Society - Year 2011, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
Egg production of Haco black, Shaver’s brown, Lohman brown and Olympia black were collected from production records at Big Bam commercial farm Makurdi from 1997 to 2004. The mean hen day lay of the breeds were estimated in percentages at 49-52, 56-60 and 69-73 weeks. The mean hen day lay of effects of breed by year and breed by pen by age of bird interactions were estimated. The hen day lay of Haco black by year interaction were low varied significantly (P<0.05) across the years; while that of Shavers brown were significantly higher and consistent. Olympia black and Lohman brown hen day lay due to interaction with year were also high with minimum variation across the years. The mean hen day lay due to effects of interaction of Haco black at 56-60 and 69-73 weeks by pen L[sub]1[/sub], L[sub]2[/sub], and L[sub]3[/sub], were significantly lower than that at 49-56 weeks. The mean hen day lay due to effects of interaction of Shavers brown at 56-60 and 69-73 weeks by pen L[sub]1[/sub], L[sub]2[/sub], and L[sub]3[/sub], were significantly higher than that at 49-56 weeks. The mean hen day lay of interaction of Lohman brown and Olympia black at 69-73 weeks by Pen L1, L2, and L3, were significantly higher than that at 56-60 weeks. This result indicated that the response to the restrictions of the years and their effects on the strategies of aging of the breeds on their hen lay varied across the genetic groups. Haco black was more susceptible to this stress especially at the advanced age. Lohman brown and Olympia black were better than Haco black. Shaver’s brown was superior in this trait as neither the restrictions of the years nor the strategies of aging affected its hen day lay. In order of fitness, Shavers brown, Lohman brown and Olympia black were most adapted to this region. Thus, Shavers brown which is better adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions in the Southern Guinea Savannah is recommended for poultry farmers in this locality.
Authors and Affiliations
Deeve Gwaza, Terzungwe Ahemen, Joseph Egahi
Keywords
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