Growth and Carcass Performance of Six Tropically Adapted Dual Purpose Chicken Breeds under Intensive Management System

Abstract

The performance of Fulani, FUNAAB Alpha, Kuroiler, Noiler, Sasso and ShikaBrown was evaluated. Three hundred birds of each breed were raised from day-old on deep litter at two separate stationsin Ibadan and Abeokuta up to 140 days of age. Data on live performance, morphology, physiology and carcass characteristics were collected and proximate analysis of muscle was carried out. The feed intake, total weight gain and feed conversion ratios indicated the hierarchy of the breeds as follows: Kuroiler, FUNAAB Alpha, Sasso, Noiler, ShikaBrown and Fulani. FUNAAB Alpha had the highest haemoglobin content while Sasso had the lowest. Haemoglobin and rectal temperature were significantly higher for birds raised at the Abeokuta station than those raised in the Ibadan station indicative of the higher temperature-humidity index at Abeokuta.Thedressing percentageranged from 69.2 to 60.9 for Noiler and Fulani, respectively. Sasso had the highest muscle to bone ratio (2.8) and Fulani had the lowest (1.8). Fulani hadthe highest lung weight as a percentage of the live weight (0.9%).Muscles of Noiler had the highest moisture content (75.3%) and the lowest fat content (1.5%). Muscles from FUNAAB Alpha and Fulani had the highest CP contents (25.4 and 25.0%, respectively) while Noiler had the lowest CP (21.3%). Results from this study indicate that all the 6 breeds are adapted to the tropical environment, with performance characteristics higher for the improved breeds and adaptability characteristics higher in the unimproved or locally developed breeds.