FREE RANGE AND DEEP LITTER HOUSING SYSTEMS: EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD PROFILE OF TWO STRAINS OF COCKEREL CHICKENS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the performance and blood profile of one hundred and fifty cockerel chickens each of Harco Black and Novogen strains raised on deep litter and free range production systems. Each production system was allotted 150 chicks in three replications of 25 chicks per strain. The birds on deep litter production system were fed ad libitum while each of the birds on free range was fed 50 % of its daily feed requirement. The birds were weighed weekly. Blood plasma and serum were collected at the 4th and 12th weeks for laboratory analyses. Data generated were subjected to analysis of variance in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. Novogen strain consumed less feed (P

Keywords

• Production system
• performance
• feed: gain
• blood profile
• cockerel chicken