Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]
Volume 15(2): 2130 - 2134. Published September, 2012.
Laying
performance of five local hen phenotypes, in improved rearing conditions
* Hervé Brice Dakpogan1, Sahidou Salifou2,
Armand B. Gbangboche3 and Christophe A.A.M. Chrysostome4
1,2Applied Biological Research Laboratory
of Polytechnic School, University of Abomey-Calavi , Benin,
3,4Department of Animal Production, Faculty
of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey- Calavi, Benin
Corresponding
e-mail: dakpogan2002@yahoo.fr, tel: (00229) 94 62 58 36
SUMMARY
The
laying performance was evaluated for 2 years on 5 free-range local hens. Their phenotypes
were: the normal, the naked neck, the dwarf, the silky and the frizzle. These
were allocated into a family of 6 hens and 1 cock in duplicate at research station.
Laying cycle, number of laid eggs, egg weight, egg length and diameter, day-old
chick weight and phenotype were the collected data. The egg characteristics results
in terms of egg weight and egg diameter were not significantly different among the
phenotypes (P<0.05). But on the other hand significantly (P-value) longer eggs
were recorded with dwarf hens and naked neck. Frizzle hens laid significantly more
eggs (135 eggs/year/hen) than normal hens (51 eggs/year/hen) and were the most precocious
(149.1 ± 3.3 days) and significantly heavier at sexual maturity stage (1065.1 ±
42 g) than the other hens. The mean interval between consecutive laying periods
was shorter with dwarf hens (21.2 ± 1.5 days), naked neck (21.8 ±1.7 days) and frizzle
(22.4 ± 1.5 day). Significantly lower chick weight was recorded in silky phenotype
compared to other phenotypes. Results indicated that, provision of better health
care, better feeding and management helped the free-range hens to better express
their genetic make-up. The phenotype effect herein observed on laying performance
proved that the choice of hen phenotype will be a determinant in selection programs
for free-range local hens laying performance improvement.
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