Performance, health status and cost implications of Raising Broiler chickens under different housing Systems

Abstract

This study investigated the performance and cost implication of raising broiler chickens under different housing systems. Three (3) different rearing systems namely; deep litter, colony cage and fold unit housing systems were used for this study. A total number of one hundred and thirty (130), four (4) weeks old Abor-acre strain of broiler chickens were procured out of which, one hundred and twenty (120) were randomly distributed into three (3) treatments of four (4) replicates, ten (10) started chicks per replicates in a Completely Randomized Design and the weight of each replicate was balanced (±1g). The birds were fed formulated broiler finisher diets and water ad–libitum throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experimental period, the birds were starved overnight and weighed in the morning. Two (2) birds per replicates were slaughtered and blood collected for haematological studies. Carcass and organ parameters were recorded, while cost analysis was done using excel. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SPSS version 17 package. Results from the study revealed highest final weight, highest weight gain, highest eviscerated weight, lowest feed intake (2388.00 ± 1.44g, 1716.25 ± 0.32g, 1890.00 ± 27.00g, 3475.75 ± 36.57g, respectively) and best feed conversion ratio (2.03 ± 0.07) were recorded in birds on fold unit system. All the organs measured were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the treatments except heart. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), packed cell volume (PCV), heamoglobin (Hb), mean cell heamoglobin concentration (MCHC) were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the housing systems. Among all the bacteria isolated; streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella spp., Enterobacter aerogenes and Seratia marcesces were significantly (P<0.05) influenced by the housing systems. The cost evaluation of this study indicated beneficial effect of using colony and fold unit systems. Lowest total cost of production (N1481.67) was recorded in fold unit system while highest total cost of production (N1754.95) was recorded in deep litter system. Highest live weight (2.44kg), highest total sales price (N2196.00) and highest net profit (N714.00) were recorded in bird raised under fold unit. From the total cost of production, live weight, total sales price and net profit, it could be concluded that bird raised under fold unit performed well and better and such housing system (fold unit) could be adopted by backyard/small scale broiler chicken farmers as alternative to conventional deep litter system.