Fifty 28 weeks old layers were reared in individual cages for 9 Weeks to detect the effect weight has on some production traits. Body Weight was positively though non- significantly (P.0.05) correlated with egg number, egg weight and negatively with Shell thickness (r =-0.12) and egg index (r=-0.15). Estimates of optimum 28-week body weights, as determined from second-degree (quadratic) equations, indicated that for satisfactory performance a body weight range of 1728 to 1814g is required, Breeding and good management especially feeding are thought to be capable of maintaining this weight range.

Efficacy of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) for ameliorating the adverse metabolic syndrome side-effects of genetically improved growth rate in chickens was examined. Sixty-four (64) day-old birds (32 Marshall Broilers and 32 Harco Black Pullets) were randomly assigned to groups of eight genotype-matched birds in a 2-factor layout within a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Within genotype, each group was randomly assigned one of four diets (basal/control diet containing 0% cabbage, and, basal diet supplemented with 3%, 6% or 12% cabbage) for 4 weeks. All birds were fed an un-supplemented Broiler finisher diet from week 4 -8. Bodyweight and Body Mass Index (BMI) were determined weekly. Blood Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), White Blood Cells (WBC), Red Blood Cells (RBC), neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils), Total serum Cholesterol (TC), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) were determined at age 4 weeks. Irrespective of diet or age, Broilers exhibited significantly greater (p<0.05) body weight, adiposity, and lipidaemia than Pullets, and no interactions between cabbage and genotype were observed for the same traits. Dietary cabbage at 3%, irrespective of genotype significantly (p<0.05) improved body weight beyond week 5 while no significant effect was observed on body fatness as measured by BMI. Cabbage supplementation suppressed broiler eosinophil levels, indicating effects on mediators of innate immune surveillance, but did not influence any other blood haematological parameter, though Broilers exhibited higher (p<0.05) total WBC count and proportion (%) of WBC represented by neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils. In Contrast, Pullets exhibited higher RBC, PCV, and Hb, and lymphocyte and monocyte differential counts. Dietary Cabbage had a nutrigenetic effect on cholesterol: Reduced TC and LDL in Broilers in contrast to its effect in increasing the same lipids in Pullets. Cabbage however lowered HDL Cholesterol (p<0.05) in both genotypes, though the threshold of effect was higher (12%) in Pullets (3%). Thus Cabbage is effective in lowering heart disease risk through lowering of lipidaemia in Broilers, and improves bodyweight at market age (7-8 weeks) at 3% dietary supplementation level.

Two Hundred and six day old Fulani Ecotype chicks (FEC)were used to investigate the effect of feeding two types of diet (Chick starter diet and Broiler starter diet formulated to meet standard nutritional requirement of pullets and broiler chicks) on growth traits and performance from O to 8 weeks. The broiler starter diet contained 23% Crude Protein (CP) and 3000Kcal/kg Metabolizable Energy (ME), and the Chick starter diet contained 21% CP and 2800Kcal/Kg ME. The growth traits measured were body weight (BW), body length (BL), body girth (BG), wing length (WL), thigh length (TL), drumstick length (DL), keel length (KL), and shank length (SL), while chicks performance were estimated from feed intake. feed efficiency, growth rate and weight gain. Average body weight of chicks fed broiler starter diet were significantly (P<0.05) higher from week 1 to 8. Chicks fed broiler starter diet exhibited numerically higher BL, BG, WL, TL, DL and KL than those fed chick starter diet at all ages and differences were significant (P<0.05) at some ages. Chicks fed broiler starter diet significantly (P<0.05) consumed more feed at week 1 and 2, and they gained more weight than those fed chick starter diet from 0 to 4 weeks (120.51 vs. 97.89g), and 5-8 weeks (255.11 vs. 239.13g). Feed efficiency in chicks fed broiler starter diet was relatively higher by 13.21% than observed in those fed chick starter diet from day old to 4 weeks and this translated to faster growth rate during the period in the former group (34.30% Vs.32.67%). This Study shows that the broiler starter diet produced superior growth traits and better feed efficiency in Fulani Ecotype chicks.

Behaviour affects performance and productivity of poultry birds especially chickens, some behavioural traits are advantageous in a particular production system and may be of disadvantage in another production system. The present study compared behavioural of Nigeria Local Chicken, NLC (two separate samples of 11 Yoruba Ecotype) and its Exotic counterparts (11 Broilers and 11 Pullets) by use of the Open Field (OFT), T-Maze, Forced Approach, and Voluntary Approach Tests (FAT and VAT respectively) during two phases of Growth (0-4 Weeks, and 4-8 weeks age respectively). The former group (NLC) is better adapted to extensive management in the Nigerian Guinea savannah than the latter Results showed that Yoruba NLC issued a significantly (p<0.05) higher number of distress calls than the Exotic genotypes in the OFT at age 7 and 48 days, and the NLC issued significantly more calls at 7 days age. Broilers exhibited significantly lower OFT Latency at 7 and 48 days, and Broilers traversed fewer squares and spent less time ambulating than other genotypes at 48 days age. Ina T-maze, Broilers showed significantly (p<0.05) lower exploratory behaviour than other groups (higher latency to leave the start box). In the FAT, NLC showed lower Latency to flight (p<0.05) than the Exotic genotypes. Ethological test results indicate differences in the behavioural characters exhibited by Yoruba NLC and Exotic Chickens and such differences could embody the basis of anecdotal differences in the rates of survival under extensive management conditions, and may be subjected to quantitative genetic selection in the ongoing effort to produce improved chickens that incorporate a combination of desirable traits from both Local and Exotic chickens.

In a study to determine the effect of production systems on performance of guinea fowls, birds were raised either on the deep litter or in battery cages. Each group comprised of 200 unsexed keets kept at a stocking density of 0.06m 2 /bird and were observed from 4 weeks up to 20 weeks of age. The birds were fed ad libitum and necessary vaccinations were given. Data obtained on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality were compared using the unpaired t-test. Production system had significant influence (P<0.05) on body weight at week 20, total feed intake, total weight gain and feed conversion ratio. Birds raised in cages had better weight gain (773.5 and 651.0g for cage and deep litter respectively). While feed intake was higher for birds raised on the deep litter (5602.33 and 5118.60g for litter and cage, respectively), feed conversion ratio was better with birds raised in cages (6.62 and 8.61). Mortality was similar for birds raised under both systems. It was concluded that better body weight can be achieved by raising guinea fowls in cages.