LATE GROWER PHASE PERFORMANCE OF THREE GENOTYPES OF THE NIGERIAN NATIVE CHICKENS REARED UNDER INTENSIVE SYSTEM IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

The study investigated the growth performance of naked neck, normal and frizzle-feathered Nigerian native chickens during grower phase (9 to 18 weeks), under intensive system. 150 chicks, comprising 50 chicks from each genotype, were used in a 3 X 2 factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data were collected weekly on body weights and the data subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software version 22.0 and mean separation done using Duncan multiple range test. The result showed a significant genotype effect (p<0.05) on body weights from week 9 to 18. Naked neck and frizzle-feathered chickens had comparable but higher (p<0.001) body weight than normal feathered indigenous chickens. Sex had highly significant (p<0.001) influence on body weight from week 9 to week 18 and on total weight gain. Genotype X sex interaction had no significant (p>0.05) effects on body weight of Nigerian indigenous chickens from week 9 to week 18. Naked neck and frizzle feathered males had comparable total weight gain, which were higher than that of normal feathered males and all females irrespective of genotype. Naked neck females had significantly (P<0.01) higher total weight gain than normal and frizzle-feathered females, which had comparable total weight gain. It could be concluded that the naked neck genotype performed better than the frizzle and normal feathered Nigerian native chickens under intensive system of management.