Effect of seasons on performance and egg quality traits of commercial laying birds raised in tropical monsoon climate in southern Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change has been a major challenge facing poultry production within the tropical monsoon climate of southern Nigeria. An experiment was set up for a period of one year to examine the effects of seasonal fluctuations on the productivity as well as the quality of egg traits of commercial-laying birds between the rainy and hot-dry seasons. There were 600 laying-pullets of 20-week-old used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Initial live weight, final live weight, weight gain, feed intake, hen-day production, mortality rate, egg weight, egg cracks, feed efficiency/g egg, and internal and external features were among the performance indicators that were recorded.  The season of rain (April–October) and the hot-dry season (October–March) were used to group the records.  In the rainy season, there were significant (p<0.05) effects on final live weight, weight gain, feed intake, hen-day- production, and egg cracks. There was also a significant (p<0.05) difference in mortality rate, with the dry-hot season showing the highest rates. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the internal and external egg quality parameters such as yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk colour, and haugh unit, with the rainy season being superior to the dry-hot season. The findings showed that in a tropical monsoon in southern Nigeria, the laying hen performed better in the rainy season than in the dry-hot season in all variables studied. Houses should be properly built, and trees made available for the appropriate shading of laying houses.