Performance of Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp, and Naked Neck crossbreds under alternative production systems

M Usman,A Mahmud,J Hussain,A Javid

doi:10.4314/sajas.v50i4.8

Performance of Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp, and Naked Neck crossbreds under alternative production systems

M Usman, A Mahmud + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v50i4.8

Copy DOI

Abstract

The effects of the production system, breed cross, and their interaction on performance, egg quality, and hatching traits were evaluated. Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp were crossed with Naked Neck chickens (first generation RNN, and BNN, respectively). These crosses were mated among themselves and crossed to produce four crossbreds: RR (RNN x RNN), BB (BNN x BNN), RB (RNN x BNN), and BR (BNN x RNN). Thirty-six pullets and 9 cockerels from each crossbred were maintained in three production systems: the aviary system (AV), conventional cages (CC), and enriched cages (EC). Thus there were 48 pullets and 12 cockerels in each production system. Bodyweight, egg production percentage, and egg weight were highest in EC, followed by CC and AV. Higher egg weight, egg surface area, and egg volume were also observed in EC compared with CC and AV. Fertility and hatchability were higher and early embryonic mortality was lower in AV than in EC and CC. Bodyweight, egg production percentage, egg weight, egg volume, and surface area were higher for RB and BR than for BB and RR. Fertility and hatchability were similar for RB and BR. RR was similar to BR, but lower than RB. BB had the lowest fertility and hatchability. Thus, chickens in EC performed better than in the other systems, except that hatching traits were better in AV. RB and BR performed better than BB and RR.Key words: breed crosses, chicken, egg quality, hatchability

Highlights

The poultry sector in developing countries understands the pivotal significance of fulfilling dietary requirements and alleviating poverty, serving as a major animal protein source and delivering essential nutrients
Chickens that were reared in enriched cages (EC) had the highest initial bodyweight, final bodyweight, egg production percentage, and egg weight, followed by those reared in conventional cages (CC) and aviary system (AV)
0.1773 a-c Within each row, values with similar superscripts did not differ at P =0.05 x-y Within each column, values with similar superscripts did not differ at P =0.05 Breed cross: (RNN: Rhode Island Red × Naked Neck, BB: BNN × BNN and BNN: Black Australorp × Naked Neck), RR: RNN × RNN, RB: RNN × BNN, BR: BNN × RNN, production system: EC: enriched cage, AV: aviary, CC: conventional cage, Initial: egg quality at 26 weeks old, Final: egg quality at 46 weeks old, EW: egg weight (g), ESI: egg shape index, ESA: egg surface area, EV: egg volume, HU: Haugh unit score, YI: yolk index

Summary

Introduction

The poultry sector in developing countries understands the pivotal significance of fulfilling dietary requirements and alleviating poverty, serving as a major animal protein source and delivering essential nutrients This sector is reliant on commercial exotic breeds and pays no attention to rural chicken breeds. Better productive performance and adaptability traits of Naked Neck can be exploited through heterosis and complementarity in crosses between Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp. These crosses have genetic potential for high levels of egg production and meat yield and a possibility of higher economic returns. The present trial was conducted to evaluate the production performance, egg quality attributes, and hatching traits of Naked Neck, Black Australorp, and Rhode Island Red crossbreds under alternative production systems

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions