Comparative Studies on Laying Performance and Egg Components of the Native and Commercial Laying Hens

Abstract

Raised in individual cages under the same farm condition with free access to feed and water and under the 15L:9D lighting programme from 18 weeks of age onwards, the reproductive performance and egg component of the native and commercial laying hens were compared. At the onset of lay, the native hen had an average age of 152.8 d, 1.51 kg body weight and weight of first egg 28.9 g compared with the commercial laying hen which had an average age of 129.3 d, 1.42 kg body weight and weight of first egg 33.4 g. Hen-day egg production of the native hen was, at all time, lower than that of the commercial laying hen; with their peak production of 38.0 and 75.5%, respectively (P<0.05). Cumulative egg production of 91.6 eggs/hen/year of the native was much lower than that of 242.9 eggs/hen/year of the commercial (P<0.05). Average feed consumption values during laying period (20-72 weeks of age) of the native and commercial laying hens were about 81 and 100 g/hen/day, respectively (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio, during the same period, of the native ranged from 5.3-176.8 whereas those of the commercial ranged from 2.4-3.7 (P<0.05). Average egg weight of the native was always lower than that of the commercial (P<0.05). Results obtained from the egg component study of the two breeds showed that yolk, albumen and shell weights of the native hen were 14.21, 25.45 and 4.52 g/egg and of the commercial hen were 14.64, 37.24 and 5.42 g/egg, respectively (P<0.05). The evidence that the albumen and shell portions of the native were much lower than those of the commercial whereas the yolk portion was not much different, suggested that the lower egg weight of the native was mainly contributed to its lower oviduct function.