Exotic Layer Breeders- Reproductive Performance in the Tropics

Poultry industry in the Tropics,and Nigeria in particular is bedeviled with low productivity due to unfavourable rearing environment,coupled with the inability of exotic breeds to adapt to the prevailing hot weather conditions.Worse still,the indigenous chickens are slow growers and poor egg producers because of their broody nature.This book, therefore, provides valuable information on the performance of two breeds of exotic layer breeders reared for the production of commercial day-old chicks.They were Barred Plymouth Rock and White Plymouth Rock breeder hens.Barred Plymouth Rock birds were good and superior to White Plymouth Rock breeders in hatchability, survivability and egg quality traits.The former appeared hardy, heat tolerant,productive and adaptable to humid conditions.For increased production of animal products therefore,Barred Plymouth Rock genotype could be used in tropically-oriented breeding programme to improve and upgrade the genetic potential of our indigenous chickens.These findings should be especially useful to Poultry Breeders and Research Institutes or anyone else who may be interested in the development of a breed of chicken suitable for Tropical region.