EFFECTS OF LOCATION ON REPRODUCTIVE AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF TIV CHICKEN ECOTYPE

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effect of location on the reproductive and growth performance of Tiv chicken ecotype. 55 birds (10 hens and 1 cock) were purchased from 5 localities and used as based population. The birds were housed base on their location and allowed to freely mate at a ratio of one cock to 10 hens. Fertile eggs were collected 4 weeks after onset of laying to achieve optimum fertility. The eggs collected were labelled with a marker according to their location and set for hatching in an automatic incubator. Parameters measured include: Fertility, embryonic mortality, hatchability and reproductive capacity (reproductive trait) as well as hatch weight, weekly body weight, body weight gain, growth rate and chick mortality rate for growth trait. Data collected was analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure of SPSS statistical software 2011 version. The result obtained from this study showed that location had significant (P<0.05) effect on hatch weight, weekly body weight, growth rate (at week 0-1, 5-6 and 6-7) and mortality rate. However, locations had no significant (P>0.05) on reproductive parameters except fertility and infertility which were significant. From the finding of this research it was recommended that selection of Tiv local chicken should be location based
especially for those parameters where location had significant effect.