SHORT TERM EGG PRODUCTION PARAMETERS OF DIALLEL CROSSES BETWEEN NOILER AND HEAVY ECOTYPE CHICKENS REARED IN NSUKKA, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the short-term egg production parameters from diallel crosses between Noiler and Nigerian heavy ecotype chickens. It evaluated traits such as age at 1st egg, percentage egg production, weight of 1st egg, egg weight and egg mass, across various genotypes (NN, HN, NH and HH). A total of 84 birds comprising 6 Noiler cocks (NC) and 36 Noiler hens (NH), 6 heavy ecotype cocks (HC) and 36 heavy ecotype hens (HH) in the mating ratio of 1:6. The birds were arranged in four breeding groups or genotypes thus NC x NH (NN), HC X HH (HH). NC X HH (NH), and HC X NH (HN). Eggs laid were collected according to breeding groups and were set and hatched for growth traits studies. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated significant difference (P˂0.05) in egg production metrics. Noiler crosses exhibited superior egg weight, percentage egg production, age at 1st egg, weight of 1st egg and egg mass compared to local ecotypes. The current findings provide valuable insights into optimizing chicken breed for enhanced egg production in Nigeria’s agricultural context.