Evaluating smallholder brood- and- sale poultry operation using crossbred local chicken genotypes in South East, Nigeria.

Abstract

A total of 92 crossbred pullet chicks of normal feather (44), naked neck (27) and frizzle (21) were used to evaluate early growth performance and monetary returns of a simulated smallholder brood-and-sale poultry production operation. Average day-old (D.O.) weight of chicks were 34.57±0.98g, 35.28±0.59g and 35.38±1.02g for the normal feather, naked neck and frizzle, respectively and these D.O. weights were not significantly (P>0.05) different. However, at 6 weeks of age, the frizzle pullets weighed significantly (P<0.05)
heavier (402.10±17.54g) than the naked neck (385.88±5.91g) but the latter were not different from the normal feather pullets (388.45±14.90g). The frizzle pullets consumed significantly more feed and had better feed conversion ratio than the naked neck and
normal feather pullets. Cost of day-old chicks was on the average higher for the frizzle and naked neck chicks (*250.00 and 175.00 /chick, respectively) than the normal feather (120.00/chick). However, the frizzle and naked neck birds attracted higher revenues
(1250.00 and 850.00, respectively) and higher gross margins (580.00 and 231.00, respectively) than the normal feather pullets (121.00). Thus indicating that raising frizzle and naked neck pullets would be more profitable to a smallholder poultry farmer
especially in South Eastern igeria where these rare chicken genotypes are considered as premium birds.(*$1 = 155.00).