Effect of egg size and strain on growth performance of cockerel

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of egg size and strain on growth performance of cockerel chicks obtained from Dominant Black (DB) and Yaffa Brown (YB) strains of pullet. A total number of two hundred and seventy day-old cockerels hatched from three different egg sizes (i.e 45 chicks from small, medium and large egg sizes for each of DB and YB) were used for this study. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance in a 2 x 3 factorial experimental layout. The initial weight of the chicks was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the egg size. Final weight and average daily weight gain were the only growth parameters affected (P<0.05) by egg size till the end of starter phase. The effect of strain on all the growth parameters measured were not significantly (P>0.05) different. At the growing phase, feed intake decreased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in egg size. It was concluded that setting of medium and large egg sizes could only be beneficial if the target was to sell chicks of the two strains at the end of chick phase.