Hatch-Out Analysis and Repeatability Estimates of Common Hatchability Problems in Issa-Brown Breeder Stock

Six thousand and three hundred (6,300) sampled hatchable eggs (from a total of 68,130 eggs) produced in two commercial farms were used to evaluate hatchout performance and repeatability of some common hatchability problems in 38-41 weeks old Isa-Brown hens. Fertility, hatchability of total egg set and hatchability of fertile eggs were generally high (>80%) for eggs from the two farms. There was significant difference (p<0.05) between the two farms in the magnitude of hatchability problems at the early (1-7 days) and late (15-17 days) stages of embryonic development. Hatchability problems were higher for eggs obtained from farm AB (16.89%) than for eggs obtained from farm AA (11.87%). The trio of early post fertility mortality, piped, and dead-in-shell were the most important hatchability problems in the two farms. The estimates of repeatability of hatchability problems were generally high (66-98%). Repeatability estimates obtained for early and late embryonic stages were higher than that obtained for the mid-embryonic stage. Results obtained from this study showed that farms source of hatchable eggs has effect on the type and magnitude of reproductive failures that occurred during incubation. The high repeatability of hatchability problems at the early and late embryonic stages suggest a high probability of reproductive failure at the early and late stages of embryonic development in the future except corrective breeding and management strategies are put in place.Keywords: Hatch-Out Analysis, Repeatability, Fertility, Mortality and Hatchabilit

Effects of dietary dehulled, sundried mango seed kernel meal on growth and carcass characteristics of Fryer Rabbit

No Abstract. JARD Vol. 3 2004: pp. 129-14

Litter growth and waning characteristics in two generations of straightbred and cross bred rabbits

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Genetics Vol. 18 2003: pp. 68-7

Correlation between some weaning traits in domestic rabbit in Nigeria

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Genetics Vol. 18 2003: pp. 63-6

Milk Yield and Quality of Holstein and Jersey Breeds of Cattle in Kwara State, Nigeria

About 1660 randomly collected milk yield records of 450 Jersey and 15 Holstein-Friesian cows were used to evaluate the effects of breed, month of lactation and milking time on the milk yield and quality of commercial dairy cows under the tropical climate of Nigeria. Mean milk yield and milk protein were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Holstein Friesian than in Jersey but Jersey breed had significantly higher (P<0.05) milk fat, solid non-fat, total solid, lactose, and titerable acidity. Milk yield in the month of January (4.96Kg) was significantly higher(P<0.05) compared with milk yield in the months of September and December (4.16Kg and 4.26Kg respectively). The milking of cows in the morning gave a significantly higher (P<0.05) quantity of milk than evening milking. There were significant (P<0.05) interraction effects of Breed x Time, Breed x Month, Time x Month, and Breed x Time x Month. The present study showed that Holstein-Friesian and Jersey breeds have potentials for milk production traits in the tropics and these could be harnessed to develop the Nigerian commercial dairy industry. However, the performance of the two breeds is subject to environmental factors such as time and month of milking.  Key words: Milk yield, Milk quality, Jersey, Holstein/Freisia

Effects of Heterosis and Direction of Crossing on Production Performance of F 1 Offspring of Dominant Black Strain and Fulani Ecotype Chickens.

The objectives of this study were to determine the mode of gene action of determinants of performance (i.e. positive or negative heterosis) in F chickens produced by mating  Fulani Ecotype (FE) and Dominant Black strain (DB) chickens, and whether the direction of crossing (DBxFE or FExDB) influenced the mode of gene action. Analysis of all F data  irrespective of cross direction (combined) showed that the effect of 1percentage heterosis was positive but weak for Weight Gain (WG) = 0.04, Feed Intake (FI) = 3.83, Body Weight at First egg (BWF) = 0.76, Egg Weight (EW) = 11.28, and 0 for Egg Number (EN) and Mortality (M) during the laying period. The combined heterotic effects were negative for Hen Day Production (HDP), Feed efficiency (FEf), Age at Sexual Maturity (ASM), and mortality from day old to 21 weeks of age (-0.16, -4.33, -9.15 and -67.74% respectively). Positive but low heterosis was obtained for BWF (0.76), and EW (11.28) and WG, FEf, EN, ASM, HDP and M showed negative heterosis (-100.00 to - 0.28) in the DBXFE cross bred. The mean performance of the FEXDB showed positive heterosis ranging from 1.08 to 100% in WG, FI, BWF, EW, EN, HDP and M during the laying period, while negative heterosis; -67.74, -4.54 and -8.22 was observed for M (0- 21days), FEf and ASM. The reciprocal effects showed F FEXDB were superior in ASM, 1 BWF and EW, while F DBxFE were superior in EN, HDP and M. 1Key words: Exotic laying strain, Fulani Ecotype chicken, Heterosis, Reciprocal effects

Technical Efficiency of Small-Scale Rabbit Production in South-West, Nigeria

This study examines technical efficiency of rabbit rearing in South-west Nigeria. Data were collected from 150 rabbit farmsteads across states in the South-West Nigeria. The Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Production Frontier Functions were used to analyse the study data. Stochastic Production Frontier Function estimates showed that labour, size of rabbit operating stock and the type of feed fed to rabbits: either commercial feeds or kitchen and other rabbit edible wastes were contributing to revenues that accrue to rabbit rearing. However, the quantity of forage fed to rabbits did not show any influence. The inefficiency estimate indicates that rabbit mortality act as a deterrent to TE in rabbit production while rabbit farmer education and experience were contributing to technical efficiency TE. The study therefore calls for researches on rabbit health and disease control vis-à-vis the local condition under which rabbit are raised and the need to educate farmers on rabbit production techniques.Key Words: Rearing, Productive, Returns to Scale, Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Production Frontier Function, Farmstea