WEIGHT GAIN BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC BREEDS OF POULTRY BIRDS

WEIGHT GAIN BETWEEN THE INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC BREEDS OF POULTRY BIRDS

This study is aimed at investigating the weight gain difference between the indigenous and exotic breed of poultry birds.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background of the Study

Poultry farming involves domesticating birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. They are raised primarily for meat production. Chicken raised for eggs are referred to as laying hens while chicken raised for meat is referred to as broilers.

Exotic chickens are raised in specialized caging systems, they are fed with specialized formulated feeds that are rich in essential minerals, their growth is controlled and the meat production is monitored using feed formulation and vaccines. These exotic breeds are never allowed to scavenge for food. Turkeys, on the other hand, is a large poultry bird that originated from the temperate parts of the world which is now a popular form of poultry in parts of the world. Its meat is a major source of protein and its features are used extremely for decorative purposes (of researcher 2012) underground birds, on the other hand, are set free on free-range whereby chickens are allowed to move freely during the day and spend the night in the main house. Overnight housing, perching on trees or on roots and overnight housing within the main house are the common patterns of housing prevailing in the ingenious areas. Lack of housing is one of the major constraints of the indigenous poultry production system. In Enugu state, predominantly in Nru Nsukka, a large proportion of indigenous poultry mortality accounted due to nocturnal predations because of lack of proper housing (Dwunger et al, 2013). Some research works also indicated that the mortality of scavenging birds reduced by improving housing for instance, in Gambia livestock improvement program, which include improved poultry mortality (19%) relative to that observed in Ethiopia (66%) and Tanzania (33%) where no housing improvement were made (Kitalv, 2008).

1.2   Origin of fowls

Oluymi et al (2010) confirmed that the genetic difference exists in the domestic fowl’s poultry because the fowl probably originated from different wild ancestors. Based on the above differences two theories were proposed namely monophyletic theory and the polyphyletic theory, the domestic fowl originated from Gallus with one ancestor. But the polyphyletic theory states that domestic fowl has more than one ancestors. To the monophyletic theory, domestic fowl is known as Gallus while the polyphyletic theory knows domestic fowl to be Gallus domesticus. The polyphyletic theories attribute to the origin of the domestic fowl to different wild species.

The species suggested are:

• Gallus gallus (red jungle fowl)
• Gallus Lafayette (Ceglon jungle fowl)
• Gallus sonerati (grey jungle fowl)
• Gallus varius (java jungle fowl)

Through years of domestication, the fowl has undergone different development in different areas of the world. Many highly developed breeds have evolved. The degree of development in different parts of the world has depended on the advancement of the area.

1.3 Importance of poultry meat

1. Meat product constitutes about 90-95% income for the farmers, the by-products from the poultry to industries are extremely important parts of the export market of livestock production.
2. Meat from poultry is used as a medium of exchange for Nigeria’s economy.
3. Poultry meat increases nutritive value in food when the meat is consumed and improves vitamins, minerals and protein content in the diet.
4. Meat provides gainful employment to citizenry
5. Poultry meat help the Nigerians youth in acquiring psychoactive and effective skills of poultry management and preparation of poultry meat.
6. Poultry meat is rich in the omega -3 fats.
7. Poultry meat is important to provide of essential polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAS) especially in omega (n) 3 fatty acids.
8. Poultry meat can be enriched with several of the important dietary nutrients, unlike most other meats, chicken meat can also easily be enriched with several other important nutrients by adding monosodium and selenium.

1.4 Statement of the Problem

The acute shortage of protein in the daily diet in meals is on the high increase thus, resulting in several nutritional problems. These problems. These problems include disease from meat transferred to consumers, the high mortality rate among young adults, deficiency in the right supply of nutrients and many more. This has formed the basis on the need to upgrade meat quality though the observation of principles in the management of poultry meat. These principles are as follows timely feeding regime, of poultry birds, sanitization of the meat environment, proper checking of infected birds or poultry for vaccination, harvesting of the mature birds to avoid cannibalism and debeaking. The beaks to discourage feather picking, decorming the birds to disinfect birds against invasion of worms, these and many more would reduce problems associated with malnutrition of poultry birds to increase and encourage weight gain by ingenious and exotic birds of poultry.

1.5 Purpose of the Study

The broad aim of the study was to assess the weight gain between the indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry birds and obtained this differences. They include viz:

1. Compare the difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on the bodyweight
2. Compare the difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on feed consumed.
3. Compare the difference in weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on source of feed.

1.6 Research Questions

1. What is the difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on body weight?
2. What is difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on feed consumed?
3. What is the difference in the weight gain of li indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry-based on source of feed?

1.7 Significance of Study

The aim of this study is to assess the weight gain between the indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry broiler and to determine the differences that exist between the two species of broilers. The farmers will benefit because, it would help them up on the techniques and skills of raising birds with the recent innovation. It is also aim at educating students in the secondary schools on the various species of poultry birds and their types of poultry and their weight gain. The research would expose government on the need to establish government-owned poultry houses in order to increase the quantities of poultry breeds to the populace who are the end-users of poultry products. It would expose poultry dealers on the importance to maintain optimum hygiene during and after the preparation of various species of poultry breed and their weight in order to reduce consuming birds which have lost weight as a result of sickness and diseases which may have transferred from infected poultry birds.

The research would assist farmers on the need to enlarge their poultry houses to create employment to this terming youths to reduce poverty and crime in our localities. Consumers of poultry meat would be educated on the various types of poultry breeds (that is indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry) and to make decision on the one to go for.

It also help veterinary doctors on the new outbreak of poultry disease and the new methods of treating them to prevent the spread of such disease.

1.8 Delimitation of the Study

The study was delimited to Nru Nsukka in Enugu state. The breeds of the poultry meat of the indigenous and exotic poultry birds.