The Effect of Cock: Hen Ratio on Reproduction Performance of Koekoek Chickens in the Lowlands of Lesotho

Molapo, Setsumi; Kompi, Paseka

doi:10.5958/2277-3371.2015.00015.7

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…To address the issues of low fertility, farmers and researchers have resorted to the use of different mating ratios. Some commercial farms use a mating ratio of one cock to ten cocks as recommended for commercial layer production (Molapo and Kompi, 2015), while others use ratios of 1:4 (Apiiga, 2007). Akate farms Limited has been using a mating ratio of 1:10 since 2011 and reproductive performance on this farm has been reported to be low (Atawalna et al,2020).…”

Section: Guineamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Mating Ratio on Guinea Fowl Reproductive Performance

Atawalna

Agbehadzi

Essel

et al. 2022

SVU-International Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of mating ratio on Guinea fowl reproductive performance. A total of 420 Guinea fowls of the pearl variety were randomly selected from growers housed on the farm. The selected birds were sexed and assigned to three treatment groups according to a mating ratio of 1:4, 1:6 and 1:10 respectively, with a maximum of 120 female Guinea fowls in each group. Eggs were collected daily from the laying birds by treatment groups, graded and stored for a maximum of seven days at room temperature. The selected eggs were fumigated and incubated using an automated Petersime incubator. Percent fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality were measured after 28 days of incubation. Mating ratios did not significantly affect reproductive performance. The mating ratio of one male Guinea fowl to four males was optimal for reproduction.

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Section: Guineamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Mating Ratio on Guinea Fowl Reproductive Performance

Atawalna

Agbehadzi

Essel

et al. 2022

SVU-International Journal of Veterinary Sciences

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Family flock size and age–sex structure of indigenous village chickens

Desta,

Wakeyo

2024

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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BackgroundIndigenous village chickens (IVCs) significantly contribute to rural development. There is considerable variation in family flock size and age–sex structure of IVCs.ObjectivesThis study reports the family flock size, age–sex group structure, and demographic history of IVCs.MethodsThis work involved a cross‐sectional study conducted using face‐to‐face general informants’ individual interviews with 119 smallholder farmers in highland and lowland agroecological zones.ResultsThe average family flock size of the sampled households was small (mean = 7.28, range: 1–38). Female birds (hens and pullets) represented the largest proportion of the family flocks (50.2%). The proportion of chicks (26.4%) and pullets (14.4%) was lower than that of hens (35.8%), which creates a considerable challenge in producing replacement breeding flocks. Similarly, the proportion of cockerels (9.1%) was lower than that of cocks (14.3%). The average cock‐to‐hen ratio (one cock to seven hens) was better than the commonly recommended proportion (1 cock to 8–10 hens). As a result, smallholder farmers have not faced the problem of producing infertile eggs. The estimated effective population size (Ne) of 4.02 and the corresponding inbreeding coefficient of 0.12 at the family flock level show that to some extent inbreeding may occur at the family flock level; besides, the estimated Ne represents 55.2% of the census size. However, inbreeding could be offset by the high rate of flock turnover and uncontrolled mating among scavenging birds.ConclusionsFamily flocks contain a few birds, which may lead to consanguineous mating. Inbreeding is, however, considerably reduced by uncontrolled breeding among birds that share a common scavenging ground. The driving factors behind the low proportion of chicks and juvenile birds and the family flock size need to be further investigated to improve the contribution of local chickens to rural livelihoods.

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Behaviour and reproductive performance of Nigerian native chickens subjected to different mating ratios for a short term

Iyasere

Adeuyi

Alade

et al. 2020

Reprod Domestic Animals

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To date, there is no reported standard mating ratio for Nigerian native chickens despite their large population in the country. This study investigated the effect of mating ratio on behaviour, semen quality and level of stress. Sixty‐three (9 cocks and 54 hens) sexually matured birds were randomly assigned to three mating ratios (MR) of 1 cock to 3 hens (1C:3H), 1 cock to 6 hens (1C:6H) and 1 cock to 9 hens (1C:9H), and each MR was replicated three times. Each cock spent 2 weeks in a particular MR before it was moved to another. By the 6th week, all cocks had experienced the three mating ratios. Behaviour of the hens and sexual behaviour of the cocks were observed in the morning and evening, respectively, for 6 weeks. At the end of 2nd week in each MR, semen samples were collected and evaluated for motility, morphology, liveability and concentration, and blood samples were also taken from the cocks to determine the heterophil/lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, an indicator of stress. There was also no significant effect of mating ratio on the fertility of eggs and hatchability of the chicks. The number of hen–hen aggression instances, frequency of visits to the nest box and duration of nesting was not influenced by the mating ratio. However, the duration of nest seeking was higher at 1C:3H and lower at 1C:9H. A mating ratio of 1C:9H is therefore recommended for farmers interested in raising Nigerian native chickens.

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The Effect of Cock: Hen Ratio on Reproduction Performance of Koekoek Chickens in the Lowlands of Lesotho

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

The Effect of Mating Ratio on Guinea Fowl Reproductive Performance

The Effect of Mating Ratio on Guinea Fowl Reproductive Performance

Family flock size and age–sex structure of indigenous village chickens

Behaviour and reproductive performance of Nigerian native chickens subjected to different mating ratios for a short term

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