Comparative Analysis of Quadratic and Cubic Models on Egg Production

Abstract

This study was motivated by the need for food sufficiency, especially with regards to improving the protein intake of Nigerians. The study compares the application of quadratic and cubic models to determine which of them was better in estimating egg production in poultry. The secondary data of 2008 – 2010 obtained from the National Root Crop Research Institute’s poultry farm was analysed to determine the type of regression to be fitted. The data of age of birds and egg production in grams are collected weekly until the period the birds are 87 weeks old. The normality of the data to be used and constant variance was verified using Anderson-Darling normality test. Test on minimum error was also calculated from data to ascertain the best fitted models. The cubic model graph and quadratic model graph were compared. The study established that maximum production of egg and age of birds were significantly related. Results showed that the cubic model had minimum error and reached optimum point in the early part of the production week than the quadratic model.