Seasonal Variation of Crossbreeding Component of Nigerian Indigenous Chickens, Rhode Island Red and Their Crossbred Progenies for Egg Quality Characteristics

Background and Objective: Egg components are influenced by a number of factors, including age, feed, season and genetic composition, in addition to those that directly affect the consumer’s acceptance of the egg. The aim of the study is to determine the better season for egg quality among the crossbred progenies between the Nigerian indigenous chickens and Rhode Island Red. Materials and Methods: Data on egg quality compositions were acquired from a total of 100 birds, which included 5 cocks and 15 hens each of the following bird species: Fulani ecotype (FE), frizzled feather (FF), naked neck (NN), normal feather (NF) and Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens. Results: The observed results indicated a significant (p<0.05) variation in crossbreeding components of progenies produced and egg quality traits. The results show that crossbreds of NNRIR and RIRNN displayed better external and internal egg quality components than other progenies produced. A significant (p<0.05) effect was revealed for the season and all egg quality parameters measured and early rain (autumn) was better in terms of external and internal egg components. Conclusion: It can be concluded that crossbreeding enhanced egg quality traits which favoured NNRIR and RIRNN crossbred chicken eggs for external and internal composition while early wet (autumn) also improved egg quality characteristics due to the moderate rate of temperature compared to other seasons.