EFFECTS OF BREED, AGE AND SEASON ON FERTILITY, HATCHABILITY AND EMBRYONIC MORTALITY IN BROILER BREEDING STOCKS

Abstract

The study was conducted on Marshall and Abor Acre broiler breeding stocks to determine the effect of breed, age and season on fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality. . A total of 200 birds comprising 100 each of Marshal and Abor Acre were used to obtained the data according to breed, season and age. They were all fed commercial diets specific for ages and water was provided ad-libitum. Fertility, hatchability, early embryonic mortality (EEM) and late embryonic mortality (LEM) was calculated and presented in percentage. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using general linear model; Duncan’s Multiple Range was used to separate the means. The overall means for fertility, hatchability, EEM, and LEM were 88.09, 82.60, 7.84 and 9.81 % respectively. Effect of breed was significant (P<0.05) on EEM and LEM but not fertility and hatchability. Age and season effects were significant (P<0.05) on fertility, hatchability LEM and EEM. The study concluded that age and season had significant effects on fertility, hatchability and mortality, hence, the need to adjust for these factors towards attaining optimal performance of these reproductive traits. The best time for rearing broiler breeding stock in the study area is the dry cold season. For profit maximization, poultry breeders and farmers should give adequate management and required nutrition during the earlier stage of growth and also during dry hot and rainy season in order to improve the reproductive performance and avoid mortality in these broiler breeder stocks of chicken.