COMPARATIVE STUDY ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF NAKED NECK, RHODE ISLAND RED, FAYOUMI AND AUSTRALORP BREEDS IN LOCAL CONDITIONS

This study was conducted on 240-day-old chicks. The birds were divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) of every breed. Experiment findings were water and feed consumption, body weight, FCR, dressing percentage, organs weight, size, and mortality. Results showed significant (P<0.05) high consumption of water in Rhode Island Red, intermediate in Fayoumi and Naked Neck and lowest in Australorp. Feed intake was high (P<0.05) in Rhode Island Red breed than other breeds. The results of body weight showed significantly (P<0.05) high in Australorp and Rhode Island Red, intermediate in Fayoumi and lowest in Naked Neck. Results showed non-significant (P>0.05) difference in feed conversion ratio among all breeds. Results of dressing % shows non-significant (P>0.05) difference between all breeds. Result showed relative weight of heart was higher (P<0.05) in the Australorp than other breeds while relative weight of Liver, Spleen, Proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum and ilium showed non-significant (P>0.05) among all breeds. Relative size of duodenum showed significant (P<0.05) difference which was high in Rhode Island Red followed by Naked Neck and Fayoumi with lowest size in Australorp. Relative weight of jejunum was higher (P<0.05) in Australorp and lowest in Fayoumi. Non-significant (P<0.05) differences among the relative sizes of jejunum and ilium in all breeds. Naked Neck, Fayoumi and Australorp showed lowest (P<0.05) mortality than Rhode Island Red. It was concluded that Australorp breed had improved body weight, feed conversion and carcass traits while Naked Neck had low mortality. Australorp breed gives better performance as compared to other breeds.

Key Words: Growth Performance, Health Status, Naked Neck, Rhode Island Red, Fayoumi, Australorp