Performance evaluation of Dz-white synthetic and Improved indigenous Horro chicken breeds under on-farm and on-station management in different agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia
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Date
2020-12
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
In the present study the production and reproduction performance of DZ-white and Improved Horro chickens were evaluated at three different agro-ecological zones (Debre Berhan-L1, MelkaWerer-L2 and Mekelle-L3 characterized as highland, lowland and midland agro ecology respectively). A total of 2400 chickens involving two breed (DZ-white and Improved Horro) (900 days–old unsexed chicks for on-station trials and a total of 1500 chicken (8 weeks both sex)) for on-farm trials were used. Variables studied were feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, age at first egg, egg production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability and mortality traits for on-station trials, whereas body weight, body weight gain, age at first egg, egg production and mortality traits were measured for on-farm trials. Data were analyzed by GLM procedure of SAS. Under on-farm trial, age at first egg and egg production trial analysis was done only at L1 and L2.The on-station study revealed that effect of breed on feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, egg production, egg quality, fertility and hatchability was significant (P≤0.05). The DZ-white breed consumed more feed and gained higher body weight and body weight gain than those of Improved Horro breeds at all ages of the entire trials. The feed conversion ratio was poor in Improved Horro and better in DZ-white breed. DZ-white obtained significantly higher slaughter weight, carcass weight, breast, drumstick and thigh, wing, neck, back, GIT, and giblet weight than those of Improved Horro. Dressing % and the breast meat composition was found higher in Improved Horro. However, a proportion of drumstick, thigh, wing, neck, back, GIT, and giblet were found non-significant (P≥0.05) between breeds. Higher number of eggs was obtained by DZ-white with (124.57 egg/hen/224 days) as compare Improved Horro (104.58 egg/hen/224 days).The egg weight and egg mass were higher in DZ-white than Improved Horro. However, no significant differences were found between DZ-white and Improved Horro breeds for age at first egg and mortality. Internal egg quality parameters including egg length and width, shell weight, yolk weight, albumen weight and yolk height were significantly higher in DZ-white breed than those of Improved Horro. However, shell thickness, albumin height, yolk colour and HU did not differ significantly between breeds. Comparisons of breeds revealed
significant differences (P≤0.05) in fertility(%), hatchability from fertile eggs (%), hatchability from set eggs (%), dead in shell (%) and average day old chick weight (g).However, dead in germ (%), normal chicks (%) and abnormal chicks (%) were not significantly (p>0.05) different between breeds. Birds kept at L1 consumed more feed. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher body weight of females and males, body weight gain (during starter phase) and egg production was recorded
at L1 and L3. Better feed conversion ratio and earlier age at first egg was noted at L3. Higher value of slaughter and carcass weight was observed in birds kept at L3 followed by birds kept at L1 and the least was observed to those birds kept at L2. Dressing% was significantly (P≤0.05) higher at L3. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher mortality was recorded at L2 during starter and grower phase. However, during the laying stages higher mortality was recorded at L2 and L3.
Significantly (P≤0.001) higher egg weight was observed in birds kept at L1 followed by birds kept at L3 and the least was observed to those birds kept at L2. Internal egg quality parameters including egg length and width, shell weight, shell thickness, yolk weight, albumen weight and yolk height were significantly higher at L1 and L3 than those of L2.However, egg mass, albumin height, yolk colour and HU did not differ significantly among location. Genotype by environment interaction was observed for feed intake (during starter and grower phase), body weight of females (at 16 and 52 weeks of age) and age at first egg. The on-farm trial revealed that effect of breed on body weight, age at first egg, egg production and mortality was significant (P≤0.05). DZ-white breed exhibited higher body of males and females at three ages (12, 16 and 20 weeks). DZ-white started laying eggs seven days earlier than the average of Improved Horro chickens. Higher egg production was obtained by DZ-white chickens (130.84egg/hen/280) as compare to Improved Horro(100.85egg/hen/280). However, body weight gain and mortality were not significant (P≥0.05) between breeds. For the main effect location body weight of males at three ages (12, 16 and 20 weeks) and body weight of females at 12 weeks of age were significant (P≤0.05) among locations. Significantly (P≤0.05) earlier age at first egg was noted in both chicken breeds kept at L1 (155.00 day) compared to birds kept at L2 (163.00 days). Number of eggs/hen was significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by location. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher mortality was recorded in chickens kept at L2 as compare to L1 and L3, However, body weight of females at 16 and 20 weeks of age and body weight gain were not significant (p>0.05) among location. Under on-farm trial Genotype by environment interaction was observed only for HDEP during 57-60 weeks of age. In conclusion, the results of this study have demonstrated that DZwhite breeds had significantly enhanced speed of weight gain as well as growth, good feed conversion ratio; better fertility and hatchability (%) and performed well in egg production. Both chicken breeds are well adapted in highland and midland agro-ecology zone and their production performance was better than the chickens kept at lowland agro-ecology zone both
under on-station and on-farm management.Thus, DZ-white chickens are recommended to be introduced for farmers as a strategy for the improvement of small scale family poultry in order to improve the livelihood of resource poor farmers in Ethiopia