Effect of Feed Type on Performance of Nera Black Hens in the Humid Tropical Environment

Abstract

A twelve-week study was conducted to determine the effect of feed type on performance of Nera black hens in the humid tropical environment. One hundred and twenty (120) Nera Black hens of 28 weeks of age were used for the study at the Poultry Unit of the Department of Animal Science Teaching and Research Farm, University of Nigeria, Nsukka between March and July, 2012. The hens were divided into five groups of 24 hens each and each group was randomly assigned to one of five experimental diets (self-compounded layers’ diet ‘B’ and four commercial layers’ diet A ‘reference diet’, C, D, and E, respectively). Each diet constituted a treatment and each treatment was replicated thrice with 8 birds per replicate. Each hen in a replicate received about 130g of layers’ mash daily and ad libitum supply of water for the twelve weeks. Results showed that the final body weight, hen day production, average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio, average egg weight, egg shell thickness and egg shell weight were significantly (P0.05) effect on average body weight gain, egg diameter, egg length and egg shape index. Birds that consumed homemade diet (B) had significantly (P