EFFECTS OF SEX AND STRAINS ON WELFARE INDICATORS OF YORUBA ECOTYPE CHICKEN

Résumé

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of sex and strain on welfare condition in Yoruba ecotype chicken. A total number of 200 Yoruba ecotype chickens of three strains were used for the project. Data were collected on welfare indicators (tonic immobility, plumage condition and aggressiveness) in the chicken. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance in a 2 ×3 factorial design. There was no significant effects of sex on the welfare indicators; sex had significant effects on tonic immobility and aggressiveness of the chicken. However, there were no significant effects of strain of the plumage condition of the chicken. The interaction effects of sex and strain significantly (p<0.05) affected the welfare conditions of the chicken. Based on the results of this study, normal feather cock were the most fearless among the strains, the normal feather cock had the best plumage cover and naked neck cock were the most aggressive chicken among the strains.