Production performance and egg quality evaluation of indigenous chickens across different agro-ecologies of Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Indigenous chickens were evaluated for their egg production, growth performances, and external and internal egg quality parameters across three agro-ecologies. For experiment 540 (180 male and 432 female) chickens were distributed to the three agro-ecologies (lowland, midland, and highland) at their 20 weeks age. Body weight was recorded from each chicken during distribution, 4th week, and 8th week after distribution into pre-selected households. Egg production potential was identified from the indigenous chickens across different agro-ecologies. Moreover, egg quality traits were evaluated from randomly selected 270 (90 from each agroecology) eggs. Egg production of indigenous chickens in the highland was 47.7 which was highly significantly (P = 0.0001) lower number than of midland (54.2) and lowland (51.4). Except for Shell weight, all the external egg quality parameters evaluated were exhibited significant differences across different agro-ecologies. Among the internal egg quality parameters only albumen weight had a significantly (P = 0.007) higher in midland than highland. Most of the variation in egg weight was due to the positive correlation with egg length (69%), and egg width (67%). There was a variation for performance and egg quality traits of indigenous chickens in different agro-ecologies, especially better in midland, which might be resulted from the variation in environment, feed resources availability, and better management followed by households.

Production System, and Egg Quality of Village Chicken Reared Under Traditional Management System in Angecha And Damboya Districts of Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…In agreement with this result, [43] reported significant difference in egg shell weight of chicken eggs for different agro ecology for farmer managed chicken. However, it was different from the finding of [44] who reported uniform egg shell weight in different agro ecology of southern Ethiopia.…”

Polymorphism of the Candidate Genes and Their Association with Egg Production Traits in Thai Native Chickens

“…Thai native chickens (Pradu Hangdum) produced 117 eggs per year (Mookprom et al, 2017). Egg production of indigenous chickens across different agro-ecologies of Ethiopia was 51.40 eggs/hen/ year, with egg weight 48.60 g (Bekele et al, 2022).…”

Internal Egg Quality Traits of Chicken: Storage Duration and Strain Effects

“…Its natural presentation or disposition appeals to people of all ages and classes; however, the major drawback in egg production and consumption is its rapid deterioration, leaving it offensive. Bekele et al (2022) listed the factors that affect egg quality deterioration to include variation in environment, the composition of feed, and management practices of the hen. Rizzi (2020) reported that genotype and age affect most egg quality traits, and Goto et al (2022), working with Japanese quail and Brown layer chickens, observed genotype effect on the amino acids contents of egg yolk and albumen.…”

“…According to Bekele et al (2022), egg weight correlates positively with egg length and breadth. However, Okonkwo (2014) and Sadaf et al (2021) reported little or no genetic correlation between egg quality traits, and the relationship remains fairly constant even as laying age progressed.…”

“…Egg quality traits are a function of the management and nutrient contents of the hen's feed (Yaman et al 2012;Bekele et al 2022). This is so because hens are efficient feed converters and transform only available nutrients into eggs.…”