Quality Assessment of Broiler and Pullet Day-Old Chicks Hatched in Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

The quality of day-old chicks determines the foundation and performance of a flock on the farm. This study randomly selected five-day-old chicks from 8 commercial hatcheries within the Ibadan metropolis to assess the quality of day-old broilers and pullets produced. The chicks were subjected to physical examination and microbial screening. Physical parameters checked include chick weight, chick length and agility, while organ swabs cultured produced the following microbes viz., coliform and non-coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Shigella sp, Salmonella sp and Proteus sp.` The result shows that there were significant effects (P<0.05) of sources on chick body weight, with highest (39.66±0.54g) and lowest (31.80±0.54g), chick body length with highest (17.10±0.17cm) and lowest (13.70±0.17cm), and chick agility with lowest time (0.20±0.03min) and highest time (0.50±0.03min). In most of the hatcheries surveyed, microbial isolates are too numerous to count, which is an indication of contamination due to poor hygiene and sanitation in and around the hatcheries. This will have a negative effect on the quality of the chicks produced and hence their performance. It is hereby recommended that hatcheries should improve on-farm and hatchery hygiene and biosecurity.