Journal of World's Poultry Research

01-05

Authors: Samsudin AA, Hendry N and Khaing KhTh.

The study examined the effects of graded levels of Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) on the laying performance and egg quality in Khaki Campbell ducks. Twenty-seven female Khaki Campbell ducks were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments viz T1 (0% PKC; control), T2 (15% PKC) and T3 (35% PKC) and the performance characteristics and egg quality traits were examined for 4 weeks. Ducks fed T2 and T3 had higher (P0.05) on the feed conversion ratio in ducks. Similarly, dietary PKC did not affect (P>0.05) the weekly egg production and the percentage of hen-day production. Ducks fed T2 and T3 had greater (P0.05) by dietary PKC. Results indicated that Khaki Campbell ducks could tolerate up to 35% PKC in their diets without detrimental effects on egg production and egg quality.

14-17

Authors: Haghighi M, Irani M, Jafari M, Firouzi S and Habibi H.

Trials to compare mating ratios are important for optimizing the breeding efficiency of broiler breeder flocks. The study provides information on the reproductive performance of broiler breeder flock (Ross308) maintained at different male: female (M: F) ratios. 381, thirty week-old broiler breeders were randomly divided into three experimental groups with three replicates each and were assigned to one of the following male: female ratio, 1M: 13.3F, 1M: 11.6F and 1M: 10.5F. The birds were randomly allotted to 9, 2m x 2m floor pens in an environmentally controlled house. Eggs were collected daily and weekly egg production/bird was calculated for each group. Hatchability and egg production were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by sex ratio. 1M: 1:13.3Fgouphad significantly (P < 0.05) higher egg production. Hatchability of 1M: 10.5F were significantly (P < 0.05) the highest followed by 1M: 11.6F and that of 1M: 13.3F sex ratio were the lowest from week 33.Increasing the sex ratio had the effect that although average egg production/female was lower, but hatchability were improved, possibly as a result of more frequent sexual interactions of males and females.

25-30

Authors: Sekumade AB and Toluwase SW.

The study investigates the urban household demand for poultry products in Ado Local Government areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Ten wards were randomly selected in Ado local government area and this was followed by a random selection of twelve households from each selected ward, making a total number of 120 respondents used for the survey with the aid of structured questionnaires. The analytical techniques used include descriptive statistics like mean, minimum value, maximum value; standard deviation and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between the household’s socio-economic characteristics and the amount spent on poultry products. The results obtained revealed that majority of the household (45.4) percent believed that taste of the poultry product determine the demand for poultry products, the mean amount spent on poultry product monthly is ₦4,918.61(24.59USD) which is very low, it may be due to the high price of poultry products or easy accessibility to a close substitute which made respondents demand for more substitutes than poultry products and the regression analysis for the determinant of households demand for poultry products reveals that variables such as “years spent in formal education, household size and average monthly income” had positive effect on amount spent on poultry products. There should be a policy measure that will ensure increase in purchasing power of the people’s income which will invariably contribute positively to the improvement of nutritional status of the people and government price intervention program should be introduced in order to stabilize the fluctuation of poultry products prices.