Effects of floor space area in battery cages on the bird weight and egg production of olympia black layers

K.a Iyalabani ,O O Oniya ,J.a Osunade ,J.a Olaniran

doi:10.7176/isde/10-7-05

Abstract

The impact of varying floor space area in battery cages have been evaluated on the weight and egg production of olympia black laying birds. The experiment was carried out using battery cages with varying floor spaces area of 300 mm by 300 mm, 380 mm by 380 mm and 460 mm by 460 mm also stocked with 2 and 3 birds per cage cell. The experimental birds used were 45 Olympia black layers, which are seventeen weeks old and the experiment lasted for twelve weeks. The birds’ weights were measured while egg production was determined on weekly bases. Design expert software 6.0.8 version was used for experimental design and analysis of the experiment. The results obtained shows that Cage cells 380 mm × 380 mm with 2 birds gave the optimum weight of birds to be 1.46 kg and also gave the optimum egg production of 7 eggs per bird per week while cage cells (300 mm × 300 mm) with 3 birds gave the lowest productivity with egg production 4 eggs per bird per week. There was a significant effect of stocking density on the weight of bird and egg production at P ˂ 0.05. The study was able to established a template for the development of battery cage, which caters for maximum productivity and welfare of laying birds Keywords : Stocking density, battery cages and egg production. DOI : 10.7176/ISDE/10-7-05 Publication date : September 30th 2019

Highlights

Poultry production methods involving large number of birds living in a controlled environment under the supervision of a farmer; the houses are expected to provide everything the birds need to maintain their welfare and performance
It is in this view, that this study focused on the effects of floor space area in battery cages on bird weight and egg production of olympia black layers www.iiste.org
At the end of 8th and 12th weeks, cage cell 380 mm × 380 mm stocked with two birds gained 1.46 kg and 1.42 kg weight respectively, which came close comparing it with highest weight gained

Summary

Introduction

Poultry production methods involving large number of birds living in a controlled environment under the supervision of a farmer; the houses are expected to provide everything the birds need to maintain their welfare and performance. The stocking density employed by poultry farmers and by the cage manufacturers are the standard from temperate countries It is necessary for researchers in the tropical region of the world ( Nigeria) to carry out experiments with a view to investigate the stocking density that will be relevant to determine and establish a minimum standard that can be adopted and serve as template for development of battery cages in our own environment. It is in this view, that this study focused on the effects of floor space area in battery cages on bird weight and egg production of olympia black layers

Methods

Results

Conclusion