ASSESSMENT OF WEIGHT GAIN BETWEEN INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC BREED OF BROILER

Thesis Overview

1.0 Introduction Poultry farming involves, domesticating birds such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. They are raised primarily for meat production. Chickens raised for eggs are referred to as laying hens while chicken raised for meat are referred to as broilers. Exotic chickens are raised in specialized caging systems, they are fed with specialized formulated feeds which are rich in essential minerals, their growth are controlled and the meat production are monitored using feed formulation and vaccines. These exotic breeds are never allowed to range freely or scavenge for food. Turkey on the other hand is a large poultry bird that originated from the temperate parts of the world which is now a popular form of poultry in parts of the world. Its meat is a major sources of protein and its feathers are used extensively for decorative purposes (UF Researchers, 2012). Indigenous birds on the other hand are set free on free range whereby chickens are allowed to move freely during the day and spend the right in the main house. Overnight housing, perching on trees or on roots and overnight housing within the main house are the common patterns of housing prevailing in the indigenous areas. Lack of housing is one of the major constraints of the indigenous poultry production systems. In Akwa Ibom State, a large proportion of indigenous poultry mortality accounted due to nocturnal predators because of lack of proper housing (Dwinger et al., 2003). Some research works also indicated that the mortality of scavenging birds reduced by improving housing. For instance, in Gambia livestock improvement program, which include improved poultry mortality (19%) relative to that observed in Ethiopia (66%) and Tanzania (33%) where no housing improvement were made (Kitalyi, 1998). Origin of Fowls   According to Oluyemi et al (1985) confirmed that the genetic difference exist in the domestic fowl partly because the fowl probably originated from different wild ancestors. Based on the above differences, two theories were proposed namely monophyletic theory and the polyphyletic theory. According to monophyletic theory, the domestic fowl originated from Gallus with one ancestor. But the polyphyletic theory states that domestic fowl has more than one ancestors. To the monophyletic, domestic fowl is known as Gallus while the polyphyletic theory knows domestic fowl to be Gall domesticus. The polyphyletic theories attributes to the origin of the domestic fowl to different wild species. The species suggested are:

1. Gallus gallus (Red jungle fowl)
2. Gallus Lafayette (Ceylon jungle fowl)
3. Gallus sonnerati (grey jungle fowl)
4. Gallus varius (java jungle fowl).

Through years of domestication, this fowl has undergone different development in different areas of the world. Many highly developed breeds have evolved. The degree of development in different parts of the world has depended on the advancement of the area 1.1   Statement of the Problem The acute shortage of protein in the daily diet in meals are on the high increase thus, resulting in several nutritional problems. These problems includes diseases from meat transferred to consumers, high mortality rate among young adults, deficiency in the right supply of nutrient and many more. This has formed the basis on the need to upgrade meat quality through the observation of principles in the management of poultry meat. This principles are as follows  timely feeding regime, of poultry birds, sanitization of the meat environment, proper checking of infected birds of poultry for vaccination, harvesting of the mature birds to avoid cannibalism and debeaking the beaks to discourage feather picking, deworming the birds to disinfects birds against invasion of worms these and many more would reduce problems associated with malnutrition of poultry birds to increase and encourage weight gain by indigenous and exotic birds of poultry. 1.2  Purpose of the Study The broad aim of the study was to assessed the weight gain of the indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry birds and obtained their differences. They includes the following.

1. Compare the difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on body weight.
2. Compare the difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on feed consumed.
3. Compare the difference in weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on source of feeds.

1.3  Research Questions

1. Is there any difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on body weight?
2. Is there any difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on feed consumed?
3. Is there any difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on source of feeds?

1.4  Research Hypothesis

1. on body weight
2. There is no significant difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on feed consumed.
3. There is no significant difference in the weight gain of indigenous and exotic breeds of poultry based on source of feeds