Nigeria On-Station Chicken Performance Analysis
ACGG Project - Egg Production, Body Weight & Survival
ACGG Research Team
2026-01-26
1 Executive Summary
📊 Report Overview
This report presents the on-station experimental results for chicken breeds evaluated in Nigeria under the African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) project.
Key Metrics Analyzed:
- 🥚 Egg Production - eggs per bird per year
- ⚖️ Body Weight - live weight at 20 weeks (grams)
- 🌾 Feed Intake - daily consumption (grams)
- 💪 Survival Rates - weekly survival percentages
2 Breeds Overview
🐔 Breeds Evaluated in This Study
Nigerian Local Breeds: Fulani FUNAAB Alpha Shika Brown Noiler
Exotic Breeds: Kuroiler Sasso
| Breed | Type | Origin | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulani | 🇳🇬 Local | Nigerian indigenous ecotype | Dual-purpose |
| FUNAAB Alpha | 🇳🇬 Local | FUNAAB, Abeokuta | Dual-purpose |
| Shika Brown | 🇳🇬 Local | NAPRI, Shika | Dual-purpose |
| Noiler | 🇳🇬 Local | Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery | Dual-purpose |
| Kuroiler | 🌍 Exotic | India (Kegg Farms) | Dual-purpose |
| Sasso | 🌍 Exotic | France (Sasso) | Dual-purpose |
3 Egg Production
3.1 By Station
3.2 Summary Table
3.3 Key Findings
🥚 Top Egg Producers
| Station | Best Breed | Eggs/Year |
|---|---|---|
| Fol-Hope | Shika Brown | ~209 eggs |
| FUNAAB | Shika Brown | ~148 eggs |
✅ Key Observations
- Shika Brown and FUNAAB Alpha (local breeds) show excellent egg production
- Local breeds are competitive with exotic breeds in egg laying capacity
- Station effects are evident - Fol-Hope generally shows higher egg production
- Nigerian breeds demonstrate strong genetic potential for egg production
4 Body Weight
4.1 By Station
4.2 Comparison Plot
4.3 Summary Table
4.4 Key Findings
⚖️ Body Weight Rankings
| Rank | Breed | Weight (g) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Kuroiler | ~2400-2544g | Exotic |
| 🥈 | Sasso | ~2386-2489g | Exotic |
| 🥉 | Noiler | ~2020-2337g | Local |
| 4 | FUNAAB Alpha | ~1848-1935g | Local |
✅ Key Observations
- Kuroiler and Sasso (exotic) achieve the highest body weights
- Noiler (local breed) performs excellently, approaching exotic breed weights
- FUNAAB Alpha shows good meat potential
- Fulani (indigenous) has lower body weight but better survival (see next section)
- Fol-Hope station generally produces heavier birds
5 Feed Intake (RFI)
5.1 By Station
5.2 Summary Table
6 Survival Analysis
Survival is a critical trait for smallholder farmers. This section highlights the exceptional survival performance of Nigerian breeds.
6.1 Survival Curves - All Breeds
6.2 By Station - FUNAAB
6.3 By Station - Fol-Hope
6.4 Final Survival Rates
6.5 Summary Table
6.6 Key Findings
🏆 Outstanding Survival Performance
Nigerian local breeds at Fol-Hope station achieved exceptional survival rates:
| Breed | Type | Final Survival | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noiler | Local | 95.8% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fulani | Local | 95.7% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Shika Brown | Local | 95.2% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| FUNAAB Alpha | Local | 89.2% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Kuroiler | Exotic | 84.7% | ⭐⭐⭐ |
✅ Key Observations
- Fol-Hope station shows remarkably high survival rates across all breeds
- Nigerian local breeds demonstrate superior adaptability and disease resistance
- Even at FUNAAB (with more challenges), local breeds maintain good survival
- This is a key advantage for smallholder farmers in disease-prone areas
7 Comparative Analysis
7.1 Local vs Exotic Performance
| Breed Type | Eggs/Year | Body Weight (g) | Feed Intake (g/day) | SE Eggs | SE Weight | SE Feed | Survival (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exotic | 2192.5 | 112.4 | 115.3 | 87.3 | 37.1 | 2.2 | 75.9 |
| Nigerian Local | 1743.2 | 121.4 | 100.8 | 97.5 | 30.1 | 2.5 | 81.6 |
7.2 Production vs Survival Trade-off
8 Conclusions and Recommendations
8.1 Summary of Findings
| Breed | Type | Eggs | Weight | Survival | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noiler | 🇳🇬 Local | Good | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best Overall |
| FUNAAB Alpha | 🇳🇬 Local | Excellent | Good | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best for Eggs |
| Shika Brown | 🇳🇬 Local | Excellent | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | All-rounder |
| Fulani | 🇳🇬 Local | Moderate | Low | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Best Resilience |
| Kuroiler | 🌍 Exotic | Good | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐ | Best for Meat |
| Sasso | 🌍 Exotic | Moderate | Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐ | Meat Focused |
8.2 Key Recommendations
🏆 Best Overall: NOILER
Why choose Noiler?
- Excellent balance of meat, eggs, and survival
- Developed specifically for Nigerian conditions
- Recommended for mixed farming systems
95.8% Survival ~2,200g Weight
🥚 Best for Eggs: FUNAAB ALPHA
Why choose FUNAAB Alpha?
- Locally developed with excellent egg genetics
- Better adapted than exotic breeds
- Good survival rates
~200 Eggs/Year Good Survival
💪 Best Resilience: FULANI
Why choose Fulani?
- Indigenous breed with exceptional survival
- Best choice for low-input systems
- Ideal for disease-prone areas
95.7% Survival Indigenous
🍗 Best for Meat: KUROILER
Why choose Kuroiler?
- Highest body weights (~2,500g)
- Requires better management
- Suitable for semi-intensive systems
~2,500g Weight Exotic
8.3 Final Conclusion
🎯 Key Takeaway
Nigerian local breeds (Noiler, FUNAAB Alpha, Shika Brown, Fulani) demonstrate exceptional survival rates and competitive production performance compared to exotic breeds.
The outstanding survival rates observed at Fol-Hope station (90-96% for local breeds) highlight the importance of local breed adaptation and proper management practices.
For sustainable smallholder poultry production in Nigeria,
local breeds offer the best combination of production and
resilience, making them the preferred choice for most farming
conditions.