EFFECT OF OUTDOOR AND PASTURE FORAGING ACCESSIBILITY ON PERFORMANCE RESPONSES OF NOILER BIRDS

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of outdoor and pasture foraging accessibility on performance responses of Noiler birds. A total number of 320 Noiler birds were divided into 5 treatments and each treatment were replicated 4 times with 16 birds per replicate. At the end of the brooding phase (2 weeks), the birds were placed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (were outdoor durations and pasture accessibility was considered as factors) in a completely randomized designed (CRD).Were T1 serves as control (Indoor), T2 4 hours outdoor accessibility, 8 hours outdoor, 4 hours outdoor plus pasture foraging and 8 hours outdoor plus pasture foraging for T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The data obtained in this study were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were means were separated using Duncan multiple range test (DMRT) of the statistical analysis software package (SAS). The birds in T2 had significantly (P<0.05) higher final weight, similarly, higher (P<0.05) weight gain were observed in birds reared in T2. The result however, suggest non-significant (P>0.05) differences in initial weight, feed conversion ratio, feed cost per kilogram diet. It is therefore concluded that outdoor and pasture foraging has a profound effect on performance profile of Noiler birds. It is therefore recommended for better final body weight and weight gain birds should enriched birds with pasture foraging material and at least 4 hours outdoor
accessibility.