Comparative Performance of Noiler, Isa Brown and Nera Black Strains of Chicken as Replacement Pullets

Abstract

Pullet quality is the foundation for optimum layer performance. This study was conducted to compare performance indices of Noiler chicken as replacement pullets to two commonly used laying strains of birds for egg production in Nigeria. There were three treatments consisting Noiler, Isa brown and Nera black. One hundred (100) day old chicks of each were purchased from two reputable commercial farms and the birds were brooded and raised till 2 weeks of age before they were allotted into three treatments with four replicates of 25 birds per replicate. The birds were fed commercial chick mash during chick stage that lasted eight weeks and grower feed from ten weeks old for another twelve (12) weeks. Parameter recorded were initial weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, final weight, mortality and economy of production. While body weight at 18th week, age at first egg, weight of the first egg were the additional parameters recorded for the growers. Results obtained for chick phase showed that initial weight, final weight, weight gain, and feed intake were significantly affected (P<0.05). Noiler chicks recorded significantly (P<0.05) highest values for these parameters (205.00g/bird, 1013.04g/bird, 19.24g/bird/day and 57.57g/bird/day, respectively). There was no significant (P>0.05) differences in the values obtained for feed conversion ratio, mortality and economy of gain. The performance attributes of the growers revealed that the weight gain and feed intake values of Noiler (12.52g/bird/day and 85.68g/bird/day, respectively) were the highest and significant (P<0.05) to values recorded for Nera black (8.95g/bird/day and 63.73g/bird/day, respectively) and Isa brown (8.84g/bird/day and 61.09g/bird/day, respectively). The final weight was also affected by strain. Noiler had 2089.25g/bird which was significantly higher (P<0.05) than values recorded by Nera black (1531.25g/bird) and Isa brown (1493.33g/bird). The values obtained for Isa brown and Nera black were similar (P>0.05) for all the parameters. Noiler proved superior in growth performance compared to Isa brown and Nera black as replacement pullet.