Received: Jan 02, 2020 / Published: Jul 22, 2020
The study was conducted from October 2016 to December 2017 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Animal Science, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, with the aim to evaluate the interaction between farming model types and reproductive performance of Ho and Dong Tao chickens. The two farming model types used in this research were (1) the traditional type – backyard and (2) the ameliorate type – battery cage. Data were collected from 61 Ho hens and 61 Dong Tao hens continuously during 52 laying weeks. The total number of eggs laid by hens raised in battery cages averaged 88.47 eggs (for Ho hens) and 94.91 eggs (for Dong Tao hens), 35-38% higher than the number of eggs laid by hens raised in a traditional model. The FCR index per 10 eggs laid in battery cages was significantly lower than that in the back-yard model (P< 0.001). In both the Ho and Dong Tao breeds, the rate between the number of embryonated eggs by number of incubated eggs recorded in the ameliorate model was higher than that recorded in the traditional model (P< 0.01 for Ho chickens, P< 0.001 for Dong Tao). The weight of eggs produced by hens raised in battery cages was higher than eggs laid by free-range hens for both Ho and Dong Tao chickens (P< 0.01). As such, the reproductive performances and egg quality of both Ho and Dong Tao breeds were apparently improved when chickens were raised in battery cages.
