Effect of season on performance of egg-type poultry

Abstract

The effect of season on performance of commercial laying stock (Lohman Brown ) was investigated. Parameters evaluated were hen-day egg production, incidence of mortality and cracked-egg. Seasonal record was divided into four seasons as follow, early rainy season, ERS(April-June), late rainy season, LRS( July-September), early dry season,EDS( October-December)and late dry season LDS (Januay-March). Least Square Mean analysis revealed significant (P<0.05)effect of season on egg production between LDS (58.24%) and ERS(68.27%) also between LDS and EDS (69.17%). Similar effect was observed for incidence of cracked egg, where highest egg crack recorded in LDS (5.49%) was significantly(P<0.05) different from values recorded in ERS (1.53%), LRS (1.47%) and EDS(1.92%) while there was no significant (P>0.05) seasonal variation effect on incidence of mortality. However, highest incidence of mortality (3.59%) was recorded in LDS. Consistent least values for parameters evaluated in EDS and LDS established the fact that change in season exerted influence on performance of laying hen.