The effect of bodyweight variation on laying performances of Shaver brown hen in humid tropical environment

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of variation in body weight on laying performance of Shaver Brown hen in humid tropical environment. A total of 96 Shaver brown hens at their sixth week of lay were used. The hens were separated on the basis of their bodyweight, divided into four groups of 24 birds per group 0.9-1.2kg for the first group, 1.3-1.4kg for the second group, 1.5-1.6kg for the third group, 1.7-2.0kg for the fourth group. Each group was replicated 4times with 6birds per replicate. The study lasted for ten weeks. Data generated were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 20 of 2011 while statistically different means were separated using Duncan’s option found in statistical package/software. In the experiment, there were significant differences in total egg production, Hen day egg production, Hen housed egg production, average daily feed intake, egg weight, egg shell thickness, albumin height, albumin diameter, yolk height, % egg production, yolk weight, albumin weight, dozens of eggs produced per bird, revenue from dozens of eggs produced and in gross profit. The study had shown that the heavy body weight hens were significantly (P< 0.05) higher to the light body weight hens in terms of egg quality but not on total egg production. Therefore, rearing of pullets according to bodyweight groups is advantageous and could be practiced by poultry farmers in order to obtain improved performance of the flock and offer potential economic savings through more efficient production.

Key words: Bodyweight, laying performance, egg characteristics and brown chicken.