Comparison of chickens performance under backyard and free range system of rearing in Nigeria

B.Sc. Adamu Usman Jauro, BA (Hons)

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Birds are an important source of protein for humans, with a growing demand for cheap and affordable sources of protein in Nigeria, where is the need to device ways of growing chicken in a more affordable way. The present study was design to evaluate the influence of backyard and free-range system of rearing on growth performance, blood performance and carcass traits of Nigeria indigenous chicken. A total number of 80 birds randomly divided in to two groups (free range system of rearing and backyard system of rearing) were used for the study over a period of 12 weeks. The birds were first subjected to adaptation period for two weeks. The birds were given same feed and management. The body weight was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the rearing systems at week 0, 2, 3 and 5 week. However, at week 1 and week 6 to 12 the backyard system of rearing significantly produced more weight. Weight gain and average feed intake was however, enhanced under free-range management for most of the weeks of observation. Backyard system of rearing also significantly (p<0.001) performed better in terms of most blood samples except for haemoglobin, PVC and RBC. Similarly on carcass, Backyard system of rearing also significantly (p<0.001) performed better as compared to free-range on most parameters from Mann-Whitney test. From the result obtained in this study, rearing the birds under backyard system seems to be more promising on the overall performance of the bird. Raising the chicken under backyard system of rearing management improved their growth and performance.

Keywords

Blood, Carcass, Performance, Rearing, Weight

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 20. 8. 2020

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: Ing. Tamara Fedorova, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / odbor:
Tropical Agriculture / Animal and Food Sciences in Tropics and Subtropics