REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF HARCO, SHAVER STARCROSS AND HYPECO WHITE UNDER THE HUMID ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Reproductive performance measured by fertility and hatchability of eggs, was studied in three commercial breeds of chicken; Harco, Hyperco White and Shaver StarCross. Day-old parent stock chicks were obtained from three different sources, raised and stocked in a sex ratio of 1 cock: 7 hens for monitoring of the two traits under the sub-humid environment. No significant difference (P<0.05) was obtained for percent fertility of eggs, mean values of which were 84.67, 80.89 and 81.17% for Harco, Hyperco White and shaver StarCross respectively. Average hatchability of fertile eggs was significantly higher for Shaver StarCross (89.96%) than for Harco (83.11%) and Hyperko White (79.02%).