REPEATABILITY ESTIMATES AND EFFECT OF AGE ON EGG PRODUCTION IN SHIKA BROWN LAYING HENS REARED IN SEMI-ARID REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the repeatability estimates of, as well as effect of age on, egg number in Shika Brown laying hens raised in the semi-arid region of Nigeria. Freshly laid eggs collected from Shika Brown laying hens, aged 25 weeks, were used for the study. Data were collected on egg production record over a period of ten (10) weeks. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis of variance using the procedures of SPSS (20.0.0). Results showed that age (weeks) had significant (P<0.05) effects on egg production with the highest egg production recorded at weeks 26 and 28 (1040.83 and 1031.63 respectively with the overall egg number of 802.74. The overall repeatability estimates (±SE) of egg production obtained was found to be high (0.610±0.020). The findings of this study suggest that egg production in Shika Brown laying hens raised in semi-arid region of Nigeria can be considered moderately repeatable. This study is of relevance to the poultry industry, particularly in semi-arid regions, as it will give a better understanding of the egg production characteristics of this breed of chicken.