EVALUATION OF GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND SURVIVABILITY OF TWO STRAINS OF LAYER CHICKEN AT STARTER PHASE OF PRODUCTION

Abstract

The Nigeria poultry industry has over the years witnessed the introduction of different strains of layer chicken. The growth and productivity of these strains largely depend on the nutritional and climatic variables as well as genetic make-up of these strains. This implies that chicken producers should consider strains with high genetic potential for better production under their climatic conditions. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate growth performance and survivability of two strains of layer chicken at starter phase of production. A total of 120 birds (60 each of Isa brown and Nera black) were used. The birds were divided into two treatment groups according to strain and each group was randomly replicated four times with 15 birds per replicate and was raised for eight weeks in deep litter system. Parameters measured were body weight, daily weight gain, total weight gain, daily feed intake, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Data were subjected to Independent T-test of SPSS. Nera Black had the most superior body weight, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (1271.04 ± 15.30g, 1236.54 ± 6.57 and 2.44 ± 0.06) respectively. The result also indicated that strain had significant (p<0.05) influence on survivability, with Nera Black (91.1%) being superior to Isa Brown (88.80%) strains. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that Nera black layers had better growth performance and survivability than the Isa Brown layers at starter phase. It was therefore, recommended that Nera black should be used since it offers a better growth performance at the early phase of production which may eventually leads to better lay during the laying phase.