The aim of this study was to compare the monthly hen day egg production (HDEP %), egg weights, total egg mass and mortality of two commercial egg strains and the indigenous chicken with their inbred progenies. The results indicate significant (P<0.05, 0.01) inbreeding depression in the HDEP %, egg weight and total egg mass of the two commercial strains but not in the indigenous chicken. Brooding mortality was higher in the parents compared to their inbred progenies. The inbred progenies recorded higher mortality than the parents during the rearing and laying periods especially in the two commercial strains. It was concluded that the exotic commercial hybrid should not be used as breeders for the production of day old chicks for commercial egg production. Keywords: commercial hybrids, dominance, egg weights, hen day egg production, inbreeding depression, total egg mass IntroductionCommercial poultry production in Nigeria is predominantly dependent on the exotic chickens imported into the country. The indigenous chicken constitutes about 80% of the estimated 185 million chicken populations in Nigeria (FAOSTAT, 2011). Most of the poultry meat and eggs consumed in Nigeria are produced by commercial farms. The indigenous chicken contributes about 20% of eggs and 50% of meat in Africa (Pym et al., 2006). The demand of poultry meat and eggs is usually higher during the festive seasons than other periods. During the festive seasons, many birds are culled or sold and there is usually need for restocking. Consequently the demand for day old chicks and replacement pullets become too high that desperate and shrewd poultry dealers and hatcheries resort to the use of commercial hybrids to generate day old chicks through inbreeding (Ogbu et al., 2012). The consequence of this is that low grade and poor quality chicks are sold to farmers. The performance of these birds is usually characterized by poor growth rate, poor feed conversion and high mortality. Studies comparing commercial hybrids, the indigenous chicken with their random bred progenies were conducted by Udeh and Omeje (2011) andOgbu et al. (2012). The authors generally reported significant reduction in body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and increase in age at sexual maturity in the progenies. The present study tends to differ from the ones reported earlier by comparing the monthly hen day egg production, egg weight at different periods and mortality of two commercial egg strains, the indigenous chicken with their inbred progenies. Materials and MethodsExperimental Site: The experiment was conducted at the poultry breeding and research unit, Department of Animal Science, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.Experimental Animal: This comprise 250 one day old pullets and 50 one day old cockerels each of two commercial egg strains: H and N Brown Nick (strain 1) and Black Olympia (strain 2) procured from a reputable hatchery in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The indigenous chicken (strain 3) comprise of 250 chicks of mixed se...
On the 15 th of August 2016, a 6-month-old colt weighing 118 kg was presented to the large animal clinic of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The colt showed clinical signs including fever, weakness, inappetence, anaemia, tachycardia, dyspnoea, rough hair coat, pale mucus membranes, lacrimation, ataxia and edematous swelling of distal limbs. Rhipicephalus eversti eversti ticks were detected on different parts of the colt's body. Examination of peripheral blood smear showed Babesia caballi within the erythrocytes. Haematological analysis showed a decrease in red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration. Administration of imidocarb dipropionate and good nursing care yielded a successful result after two weeks of treatment. It is necessary to control ticks by regular use of acaricide and timely treatment of affected horses in order to reduce the devastating effects of this protozoan disease.
The study aimed to determine genetic gain in growth and egg production in the Nigerian indigenous chicken (NIC) subjected to multiple trait index selection for females and mass selection for males. The experimental birds (G generation) were generated from a reference 0 population of NIC and reared according to sire families from hatch. At point of lay, females were housed individually in laying cages for egg production. Hens were selected based on index scores calculated using an index of weighted breeding values constructed from own performance in body weight at first egg (BWFE), egg weight (EW) and egg production (EN), trait heritabilities and relative economic weights while cocks were selected based on own performance in body weight at 39 weeks of age (BW ). Selected parents were mated to 39 generate the G generation which in turn yielded the parents of the G generation. A control 1 2 population was used to measure environmental effects. Data were analyzed using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) computer programme. For hens, expected average direct genetic gain per generation was 12.58, 2.98g and 25.04g for EN, EW and BWFE, respectively while realized genetic gain was 2.19 and 1.59 for EN, 1.65 and 0.26g for EW, and -25.60 and 123.64g for BWFE for G and G generations, respectively. The corresponding 0 1 values for ratio of realized to expected genetic gains were 2.27 and 1.22, 3.15 and 0.24, and 0.95 and 2.21, respectively. Heritability (h2) ranged from 0.12 to 0.24 for EN, 0.34 to 0.43 for EW and 0.57 to 0.69 for BWFE, across the three generations. Similar improvements in BW 39 were observed in males with an average expected gain of 508.50g per generation. In conclusion, growth and egg production in the NIC can be improved using mass selection for cocks and index of weighted breeding values for hens.
The Nigerian indigenous chickens (NICs) are a critical component of the global animal genetic resources. They are distributed in rural areas, kept by the majority of the rural poor. They constitute different strains, or ecotypes local to tribes, regions, or ecological zones and are valued for their disease resistance, adaptation, and yield of valuable products and income on marginal inputs making them a low risk species. They are hence a unique and vital genetic resource and gene pool for present and long-term genetic improvement and human need for food and sustenance. The NIC is however; threatened by extinction owing to neglect, negative selection, breed substitution, and genetic introgression. There is need to draw research and policy attention to the conservation of NICs in accord with the global effort for the conservation of indigenous chickens which is probably the most neglected among farm animal species. The present review therefore, focuses on the physical and performance characteristics, genetic diversity and improvement, utilization and conservation of NIC genetic resources.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.