Effect of Alternate Vaccination Schedule on Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens in Niger State

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Minna using two hundred day-old Hubbard broiler chicks to determine their growth performance to the alternate vaccination schedule. The birds were grouped into two treatments consisting of 100 birds each with ten replicates per treatment. Each replicate consist 10 birds. Broiler chickens in group C were placed on conventional vaccination schedule (Control), while chickens in group A were placed on alternate vaccination schedule at starter and finisher phase respectively over a 63 day period. Feed and water were given ad libitum. Data were collected on feed intake and body weight in the two treatment groups. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in their feed intake, body weightand feed conversion ratio. It was concluded that alternate vaccination schedule in broiler chickens does not adversely affect the growth performance of the birds and either the conventional vaccination schedule or the alternate vaccination schedule could be adopted by broiler chicken farmers. It was further recommended that similar research should be conducted using other poultry species to make their vaccination program flexible.