COMPARATIVE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AMONG NOILER CHICKENS OF DIFFERENT PLUMAGE PATTERNS AT STARTER PHASE

Abstract

The study investigated comparative growth performance among noiler chickens of brown, barred, black and multi plumage patterns at the starter phase. A total of 200 day-old chicks of noiler breeds were obtained from Amo Farms Limited. The chickens were distributed in duplicate of 25 chickens per plumage and fed with commercial diet (22% crude protein, 3000kcal/kgME). Data on average feed consumption, average weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency were recorded weekly. The result obtained at the 4th week showed that the average feed consumption for all the noiler chickens were all significantly different (P<0.05) from each other with the multi plumage patterned chickens having the highest of 406.55g. The average weight gain indicated the least value of 385.57±5.9g that was not significantly different (P>0.05) from brown (402.73±17.4g) and multi plumage (432.00g). Both the feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency for brown, barred and black were all significantly different (P<0.05) in comparison to multi plumage patterned chickens. The black patterned noiler chicken showed the highest average weight gain. The present study has revealed that the performance of noiler chicken at the starter phase was influenced by difference in plumage patterns and could be used to make decisions in noiler chicken management and production.