SEASONAL VARIATION ON EGG QUALITIES OF LAYING CHICKENS FED VARYING LEVELS OF PROCESSED TANNIA COCOYAM MEAL (Xanthosoma sagittifolium)

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seasonal changes on egg quality characteristics of laying chickens fed cocoyam-based diet. A total of 140 day old commercial chicks (Shika Brown) were allotted to seven dietary treatments (n=20 birds) in a factorial arrangement 2×3+1; 2 factors (raw and boiled cocoyam), 3 levels (25%, 50% and 75%) and 1 control 0% in a completely randomized design, 80 chicks for raw sun dried (RS) cocoyam and 80 chicks for boiled sun dried (BS) cocoyam. The rate of cocoyam inclusion comprises 4 diets from RS and another 4 from BS cocoyam, each replaced maize 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. During the 12 months experimental period, the birds were given feed and water ad libitum and routine vaccinations/medications were administered appropriately. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatments means were compared using Tukey test. Result on the effect of season on egg qualities were found to increase (p<0.05) at dry season than at rainy season for both RS and BS cocoyam. Similar interaction was observed in egg abnormalities and egg qualities parameters at both rainy and dry season except with shelless egg and yolk index as both increased (p<0.05) with increase in level of cocoyam in the diet. Conclusively, the study underscores the vulnerability of egg quality parameters to seasonal climate changes in tropical climates and underscores the need for adaptive strategies to sustainably enhance poultry farming under such conditions.