Comparative growth performance of cross-bred (50% Orpington: 25% Australorp: 25% Tswana) and pure-bred tswana chickens under an Intensive Management System

Abstract

Indigenous Tswana chickens are well-adapted to local environmental conditions but exhibit slow growth rate. Exotic chickens are not well-adapted to local environmental conditions but exhibit rapid growth rate and high egg production. Crossbreeding of Tswana chickens with exotic breeds can therefore be used as a strategy to improve growth performance of Tswana chickens. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth performance of 75% Exotic x 25% Tswana chickens under an intensive management system. A total of 56 Crossbred chickens and 60 purebred Tswana chickens were evaluated for growth performance (body weight) fortnightly from 4 weeks to 20 weeks of age. The chickens were raised under a deep litter house system and provided with water and commercial feeds ad libitum. Males of both crossbred and purebred chickens were generally heavier than their female counterparts at different ages. Body weight was significantly higher in crossbred males and females than purebred Tswana chickens at 20 weeks of age. Introducing the Orpington breed to the Australorp x Tswana crosses however did not further boost growth performance of the resulting three-breed cross.