PERFORMANCES OF THE INDIGENOUS CHICKENS OF NIGERIA AND THE APOLLO 1. EGG WEIGHT, RATE OF PRODUCTION AND FACTORS AFFECTING THEM

Abstract

Data on the Ife Breed of the indigenous chicken and the Apollo, an imported commercial egg strain were analysed for effect of breed, time and generation
of hatch, body weight at various ages, and age at sexual maturity on egg weight and rate of egg production to eight months. There were highly significant
generation and breed differences, with a mean of 116 eggs for the Ife Breed compared to 106 for the Apollo over two generations. Other factors that significantly affected egg production were body weight and age at sexual maturity, and mature egg weight. Mean pullet year egg weight showed breed and hatch differences and were significantly affected by body weight and age at sexual maturity. Mean egg weight for the Ife Breed was 32.3 compared to 48.7 for the Apollo.