COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FEED UTILIZATION PARAMETERS OF LOCAL AND EXOTIC CHICKS IN AN INTENSIVE REARING SYSTEM.

A comparative study of local and exotic chicks' growth performance and feed utilization under an intensive rearing system was undertaken. A total of 32 chicks comprising 16 birds each of local and exotic breeds were studied. All birds were raised from day-old to eight weeks of age under identical housing, feeding, and management procedures during which growth and feed utilization parameters were measured. At the end of the study, the exotic breed had a significantly higher (p<0.05) mean weight than the local breed (Exotic 241.60 ± 51.33, Local 36.14 ± 9.08). Local breed had a significantly lower (p<0.05) mean feed intake (FI) (Local 168.65 ± 29.94, Exotic 665.00 ± 112.82) over the same period. The mean feed efficiency ratio (FER) of the exotic breed was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of the local breed (Exotic 0.38 ± 0.05, local 0.20 ± 0.03). Furthermore, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean specific growth rate (SGR) and the mean feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the two breeds when compared weekly, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the exotic breed was significantly lower (p<0.05) than that of the local breed throughout the experimental period. In conclusion, the exotic chickens had better growth rates than local chickens, as observed in their linear body measurements. The local chickens consume less feed when compared to exotic counterparts reared under the same conditions despite a significant improvement in the growth and feed utilization of local chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]