ARTICLE

EGG PRODUCTION, QUALITY AND CHICK COLOUR PLUMAGE OF FIVE COLOURS OF KAMPONG HENS FED GOOD QUALITY FEED

IM Mastika, AW Puger, IKM Budiasa and IGL Oka

Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Udayana University

Jl. PB. Sudirman, Denpasar, Bali.

e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

An experiment was carried out to study the egg production, quality and chick colour plumage of five phenotypic plumage colours of Kampong hens fed good quality feed. A Randomized Block Design consisted of five treatments and five replicateswere used in this experiment. A total of 25 maturated kampong chickens consisted of five plumage coloursi.e. Black (Selem), Red (biying), Mix colour (brumbun), white plumage with yellow leg (putih siung), and white plumage with white leg (putih kedas) and five cockerels with respective colours were used in this experiment. Hens were housed individually in enrich cage. Mating procedure was done in a special mating cage where each cockerel with respective colour stays all the time. Hen was bring into the mating cage and left there for 24 hours and repeated after 5 days, until hens were going into brood. A good quality feed contained 17% CP and 2750 kcal ME were offered to all hens and fresh water were provided ad libitum. Observation was made for 14 weeks.This study showed that in one laying cycle except the mixed plumage colour hens produced similar number of eggs while the mix colour was the least. All parameters measured for egg quality from those five plumage colours were similar. Observation of the chicks colour at one day old chick (DOC) showed that black plumage, white plumage with yellow leg, and red plumage hens had 100%, 100% and 81% chicks respectively had similar colour to their respective parents. While those mix colour and white plumage with white leg were only had 38.89% and 30.2% chicks with similar colour to their respective hens. After 8 weeks old, the colour of the chicks from respective colour has changed where black, red, white plumage with yellow leg had 70%, 77.5% and 93.75% chicks with the same colour to their respective hens. While those mix colour and white plumage with white leg had 53.8% and 17.6% chicks with the same colour to their parent. It was concluded that black, red, and white plumage with yellow legs had dominant gen in kampong chickens.

Keywords: Kampong chickens, chick colour distribution, egg production, egg quality

INTRODUCTION

The role of kampong chickens in providing protein from meat and eggs in Bali and Indonesia in general is well documented. In Bali, kampong chickens plays a very important role due to the fact that kampong chicken is not only providing egg and meat for consumption but more importantly it is also used for ceremonial purposes as well as for hobby (cock fighting). The total number of kampong chicken in Bali was reported about 4.6 million (Dinas Peternakan, 2010). Bali communitieswhere mostlyare Hindusneedingkampong chicken in their daily life for ceremonial functions, such as “Mecaru”, make an offering (meyadnya) namely Dewayadnya, Resiyadnya, Manusayadnya, Pitrayadnyaand Bhutayadnya (Nitis, 2006). The Chicken needed are those who have five plumage colours namely:

Red (Biying), Black (Selem), White withyellow legs (Putih siungan), White with white legs (Putih kedas), and Mixed colour (Brumbun). Those five colours follows the positions of the offerings that is red in the South (for the God of Brahma), black in the North (for the God of Wisnu), yellow in the West (for the God of Mahadewa),white in the East (for the God of Iswara), and mixed colour in the Centre (for the God of Siwa) (Utarayana, 1993; Budaarsa, 2009). These functions are common and frequently practiced by the Hindus community in Bali, as well as for hobby or entertainment such as cock fighting purpose. Although the needs of the five colours of kampong chickens are a lot particularly during the ceremonial activities, there is no special production center of those types of chickens at present in Bali. Kampong chickens are commonly raisedextensively and are left to scavenge their feedsin the field so

their production is relatively low (Mastika, 2004). To anticipate those needs, an experiment was carried out to study egg and chicken of the five phenotypic plumage colours of kampong chickens when fed good quality feed (15-17% protein)and housed in the intensive farming system to increase the production.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chickens. Twenty five mature hens (kampong chickens) comprising of five plumage colours namelyRed (biying), Black (hitam), White with yellow legs (putih siungan), White with white legs (putih kedas) and Mix colours (Brumbun) were used in this experiment. They were housed individually in “ enriched floor cages” (Pavlik et al., 2007, Sarica et al., 2008). Each cage was provided with feed and water containers, perching stick and nesting box. The chicken cage size is 100x75cm wide, with 80 cm height.

Feed and Water. Feed were formulated using a mixture of Charoen concentrate, yellow corn, rice brand,additional vitamin and mineral so those mixture containedapproximately17% CP and 2750 kcal ME as suggested by Mastika (unpublished) and this feed is considered as good quality feed for kampong chickens. Feed and water were provided ad libitum, but on the other hand feed and water intake were weighed and recorded every day.

Mating System. In order to have fertile eggs, each hens of the same colour with the cockerels were mated individually in a mating cage. Hens were placed first then followed by the cockerels. This method were performed every day by replacing the hens, until all the hens have been mated and wascarried out continuouslyuntil the hen is going into brood. The similar system of mating was employed to the other colour group.

Egg production. Egg production was counted and recorded daily for all hens and at the third day of production, one egg from each hen was taken for egg quality measurement.

The measurement of egg quality was carried out following the method explained by Stadleman et al. (1973) and Hughes (1974). At the end of production cycle, the birds would have started brooding, but feed and water were provided ad libitum and consumption were measured daily to study the pattern of feed and water intakes during brooding time. After 21 days of brooding time, the baby chickens that have hatched were counted and let the hens in the nest for 2-3 days until all the egg hatched. At one day old, chicken (DOC), the colourof the plumage were recorded. Hatched and unhatched eggs were then calculated and all this data were tabulated and analyzed.

Design of the experiment and statistical analyses. A Complete Randomized Design consisted of five treatments (5 plumage colours) as mentioned above (Red, Black, White with yellow leg, White with white leg and mixed colour) and 5 replicates each was used in this experiment. All data were recorded, tabulated, and analyzed using analysis of variance. Whenever significantly differenceswere found, analyses will becontinued using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Lu Chih Chang, 1982).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among those five plumage colours of the Kampong chickens produced eggs in one laying cycle between 11,5 to 14,3 eggs per laying cycle (Table 1). This figure is in line with the report of Kingston (1974) that Kampong chickens production was 72 eggs/year. Siregar and Sabrani (1980) also reported that egg production of kampong chickens was 30—60 eggs/year.

Table 1. Production and hatchability of kampong hens (five plumage colours) in intensive rearing

Plumage colour hens

Performance

Black (Selem)

Red (biying)

Mix colour (Brumbun)

White/White legs (Putih kedas)

White/

Yellow legs (Putih siung)

SEM

Egg production per laying cycle

14,2a*

12,3a

11,5a

12,8a

14,3a

1,43

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of egg brooded

11,8a

11,6a

10,7a

12,5a

12,6a

0,80

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of egg hatched

9,0a

7,8a

6,0a

9,7a

9,6a

0,79

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of infertile egg

2,8a

3,8a

4,7a

2,8a

3,0a

0,71

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of DOC (Day old chick)

8,8a

7,8a

6,0a

9,7a

8,8a

0,80

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of chick at one week old chick

8,8a

7,8a

6,0a

9,7a

8,8a

0,80

Number of chick at two weeks old chick

8,8a

7,8a

6,0a

9,7a

8,8a

0,80

(Puger et al., 2012)

Number of chick at three weeks old chick

8,5a

7,8a

5,8a

9,7a

6,5a

0,85

Number of chick at four week old chick

7,8a

7,0a

5,5a

9,2a

6,3a

0,74

*Note : Means in the same row with different script differ significantly (P<0.05)

This figure of egg production as significantly lower when compared to those kampong chickens housed in battery cages for egg consumption (Cresswell and Gunawan, 1992; Andi, 1988), because in this system each hen has spent time for brooding and looking after the chicks for about 6-8 weeks. It was interesting to note that the number of infertile eggs of mixed colour hens (brumbun) was the highest (4,7 out of 11,5 eggs) when compared to others. Although the feed given was the same in quality and quantity, probably those differences were due to the different genetics background of the hens. Scott et al. (1982) has reported that the efficiency of vitaminsutilization especially riboflavin in chickens was different among species. He stated that those differences due to the ability of protein bonding to a specific vitamin such as a riboflavin binding protein, which are very important in influencing embryo development

thus hatchability of the eggs. He postulated that this condition is controlled by a simple recessive autosomal gene in the homozygote state.

Egg quality of each plumage colour hen are presented on Table 2 as reported Puger et al. (2012) Egg quality betweenthe five different plumage colour hens are similar in term of egg weight, albumen weight (%), yolk weight (%). The only slightly different as on egg shell weight of white plumage with yellow legs hens which was the lowest compared to others. This differences due to the fact that the egg production of this hens was the highest, so with the same amount of feed and Ca consumption causing slightly thinner egg shell quality.

Data on feed and water consumption three weeks before brooding and three weeks during brooding were presented in Table 3and4. Average feed consumption for those five plumage colour hens were 83 g/hens/day with the range

Table 2. Egg quality of kampong hens (Puger et al., 2012)

Plumage colour hens

SEM

Black (Selem)

Red (biying)

Mix colour (Brumbun)

White plumage with white leg (Putih kedas)

White plumage with yellow leg (Putih siung)

Egg weight (g)

38,38a

37,06a

39,33a

38,48a

36,10a

1,32

White egg weight (%)

53,20a

50,41a

51,62a

56,20a

52,72a

1,1

Yolk weight(%)

34,28a

37,20a

36,20a

31,11a

37,72a

1,3

Shell weight (%)

10,78a*

10,69a

10,00a

11,11a

8,68b

0,5

Yolk colour (yolk colour fan score)

8,33a

7,25a

8,00a

6,00a

9,33a

0,6

Whole egg index (%)

76,98a

77,63a

77,31a

75,40a

78,43a

1,57

Egg white Index (%)

84,27a

78,21a

74,39a

65,91a

75,01a

2,9

Yolk index (%)

99,43a

99,10a

97,37a

96,58a

97,44a

0,7

Note: SEM=”standard error of treatment means”. * Means in the same row with different script differ significantly (P<0.05).

between 71-95 g/hens/day. This figure in line with the figure on White Leghorn hens (Scott et al., 1982). This is logical since body weight of mature hens of kampong chickens is around 1-1,3 kg/hens (Table 5) and this chickens had similar body weight to the light breed of matured White Leghorn (1,2-1,5 kg/head). The only different is egg production of kampong chickens is lower than those WL hens.

The feed consumption pattern consistently followed by water consumption (Table 3 and 4). Water consumption recorded in this experiment average was 215 g/hens/day, and this figure ranged from 153-297 g. This again confirmed the report for Scott et al. (1982). Scane et al. (2004), Ensminger et al. (1992), that water consumption of laying hens was 2-2,5 times compared to feed consumption.

During brooding time which is generally three weeks period, all hens were sit down on the nest provided and arranged a relatively constant temperature and humidity. The brooding hens will be going out from the nest either come for

feed and water or sand bathed in a short period (15-30 minutes) then come back to their nest. Data on feed and water consumption during brooding period are presented in Table 3 and 4.

During brooding period a natural physiological process occurred in which hens has spent their body energy deposit (glycogen, fat, protein) in their body as source of heat for brooding their eggs, so their body weight will drop about 171,6 g after brooding has completed (Table 5). The nature of nutrient depletion on kampong chicken hens is similar with wild birds which were reported by Mrosovsky and Sherry (1980). They state that as in nature, several species of birds self-induce a period of fasting known as molting, where they lose up to 50% of their body mass. After the completion of the molting process, the reproductive system is rejuvenated allowing the birds to enter into an egg production cycle. Similar process probably happened to the kampong chicken while brooding reduced feed and water intake so reduced body weight about 30%.

Table 3. Feed consumption of kampong chicken hens three weeks before and during brooding

Plumage colour of hens

Before brooding (g/head)                          During brooding (g/head)

Week                               Week

I           II          III           Average            I           II             III                Average

Black (Selem)

Red (Biying)

Mix colour

White plumage white leg

White plumage yellow leg

87a*    82a     93a        88a        52a     27b       19b           33ab

57b     82a     75a        71b        44ab    37a       38a            40a

64b     79a     75a        73b        29b     23b       21b            25b

92a     95a     99a        95a        33b     26b       24b            28b

92a     93a     87a        90a        44ab    29b       20b            31b

Average

78      86      86         83         40      28        25             31

SEM

7,2      6,6      7,2          3,9          5,5      2,6        3,3              2,5

Note: * Means in the same column with differ script differ significantly (P<0.05)

Table 4. Water consumption/day of kampong chickens three weeks before and during brooding.

Plumage colour of hens

Before brooding (g/head)                                            During brooding (g/head)

Week                                    Week

I                      II                     III                   Av.                            I                   II                III                  Av.

Black

Red

Mix colour

White plumage with white leg

White plumage with yellow leg

234a* 342a 315a 297a 109a 99a 52b 87b 134b 176b 148c 153c 116a 115a 105a 112a 207a 233b 182bc 207b 56b 44b 42b 47d 206a 243b 223b 224b 64b 62b 52b 59cd 177ab 203b 208bc 196b 89b 55b 51b 65c

SEM

19,8         20,7         23,4         10,2             12,9       10,7      8,7         5,2

Average

192        239        215        215             87        75       60         74

Note : * Means in the same column with different script differ significantly (P<0.5)

Table 5. Body weight changed before and after brooding period.

Plumage colour of hens

Before brooding (during production/kg)

During brooding (kg)

After brooding (kg)

Black

1.080a*

1.245a

1.038a

Red

1.190a

1.262a

1.057a

Mix colour

1.194a

1.229a

1.061a

White plumage with white leg

1.130a

1.343a

1.090a

White plumage with yellow leg

1.195a

1.279a

1.094a

Average

1.158

1.271

1.068

SEM

50,28

67,66

58,65

Note : *Means in the same column with different script differ significantly (P<0.05)

Those pattern of feed intake was followed by the amount of water intake in which the average of water consumption is 74 g (47-112 g) (Table 4). This again showing that the comparison of feed and water intake was about 2-2,5 times to those feed intake. This experiment suggest therefore regardless of the hens either on production state or in brooding condition, the water intake always following pattern of feed intake that is 22,5 times as much as the feed intake.

From those five plumage colour hens, the colour of DOC produced can be seen in Table

6 as reported Puger et al. (2012).The hens with black plumage and white plumage with yellow legs had 100% similar colour to their parents, followed by red plumage hens with 81%. Those three plumage colours mentioned above apparently have homozygote dominant gen and genetically inherited from respective plumage colours or to the respective offspring. It was also reported by Puger et al. (2012),those mix plumage (brumbun) and white plumage with white legs hens (putih kedas) have DOC with similar colour to their parents were only 38,89% and 30,2%

Table 6. Plumage colour of DOC (%) from 5 colour hens (Puger et al., 2012) Plumage colour of hens

Chick colour plumage

Black (Selem)

Red (biying)

Mix colour (Brumbun)

White plumage with white leg (Putih kedas)

White plumage with yellow leg (Putih siung)

Black (selem)

100

16

47,22

28,3

0

Red (biying)

0

81

0

3,8

0

Mix colour (black, white, red) or brumbun

0

0

38,89

13,2

0

White plumage with white leg(putih Kedas)

0

3

2,78

30,2

0

White plumage with yellow leg(putih siung)

0

0

0

0

100

Mix colour ( black, white)

0

0

0

9,4

0

Mix colour ( black, white, gray)

0

0

11,11

15,1

0

Table 7. Distribution plumage colour of chickens from 5 colour hens (first production) at two months (%)

Chick colour plumage

Plumage colour of hens

Black (Selem)

Red (biying)

Mix colour (Brumbun)

White plumage with white leg (Putih kedas)

White plumage with yellow leg (Putih siung)

Black (selem)

70

0

0

0

0

Red (biying)

5

77,5

0

4,8

0

Mix colour (black, white, red) or brumbun

3,6

20,0

53,8

11,5

0

White plumage with white leg (putih Kedas)

0

0

0

17,6

0

White plumage with yellow leg (putih siung)

0

0

0

0

93,75

Mix colour ( black, white)

17,9

2,5

36,9

22,8

0

Mix colour ( black, white, gray)

0

0

0

21,1

0

Others

3,6

0

9,3

22,2

6,25

respectively. Perhaps their gene make-up is a mixgene or heterozygote gene which influences the plumage colours of their offspring. The observation of plumage colours changed was continued until the chicks were two months old.

The interesting finding in this experiment is that after 8 weeks observation on the chick’s plumage, those white plumage hens with white legs only 17,6% of the chicks has similar colour to their parents (Table 7)

After two months old, It was observed that the plumage colour percentage has changed (see Table 7), where those DOC black plumage has 70% still black (hitam), followed by 77,5% red (biying) and 93,75% still white plumage with yellow legs. Those mix colour chicks (brumbun) has increased the number to 53,8% mix colours chicks (brumbun). Probably the colour changed was influenced by growth and sex hormone in birds. This pattern of colour change was also observed in Bali cattle, where the breeds colour will change from red to black during their growing and at sexual maturity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors wish to thank to Bali Research Center of Udayana University who provide fund for this experiment. Thanks are also due to Dean of Faculty of Animal Husbandry in providing facilities for this experiment. Thanks also to our colleague professors who involved in chickens house construction.

REFERENCES

Andi F. 1988. Raising Native Chicken. Guide Book and Abstract Book. Seminar on Animal Husbandry Research. Central Java.

Budaarsa K. 2009. Types of Offerings Chicken.

Training on Public Service. Denpasar, 2 October 2009.

Chang LC. 1972. The Concept of Statistics in Connection with Experimentation. Extension Bull.13. ASPAC. Food and

Fertilizer Technology Center.

Cresswell DC and Gunawan B. 1982. Indigenous Chicken in Indonesia: Production Characteristics in an Improved Environment. Research Institute for Animal Production. Report 2: 7-12. BPT Ciawi Bogor Indonesia.

Dinas Peternakan. 2010. Report of Bali Provincial Animal Husbandry Department 2010.

Ensminger ME, Oldfield JE and Heineman WN. 1990. Feed and Nutrition. The Ensminger Publishing Company. California.

Hughes RJ. 1974. Assessment of The Egg Quality. International Training Course in Poultry Husbandry. NSW. Dept. Agric.

Kingston DJ. 1979. The Role of Chicken Roaming in Indonesia. Seminar onBirds Science and Industry, Ciawi - Bogor.

Mastika IM. 2004. Potency and Nutrition of Native Chickens in Indonesia, between Hope and Challenge. Seminar on The Development of Chicken, between Hope and Challenge, 20 May 2004, Udayana University Campus. Jl. PB. Sudirman Denpasar, Bali

Mrosovsky N and Sherry DF. 1980. Animal Anorexia Science 207: 837-842.

Nitis IM. 2006. Peternakan Berwawasan Kebudayaan. ARTI Foundation.

Pavlik AM, Pokludma M, Zapletal D and Jelinek P. 2007. Effect of housing system on biochemical indicators of blood plasma in laying hens. Acta Vet. BR. 76: 339-347.

Puger AW, Mastika IM, Budiasa IKM and Oka IGL. 2012. Performance and Chick Colour Plumage Percentage of Five Colours Kampong Hens.National Workshop on Lokal Birds. Jakarta Convention Center, 5 July 2012.

Sarica M, Boga S and Yarnah US. 2008. The effect of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages. Czech Journal Anim. Sci. 53(8): 346-353.

Scannes GG, Brant G and Ensminger ME. 2004.

Poultry Science. 4th Ed. Pearson Prentice

Hill. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Scott ML, Nesheim MC and Young RJ. 1982.

Nutrition of the Chickens. 3rd. M.L. Scott and Associates, Itacha, New York.

Siregar AP and Sabrani M. 1973. Teknik Modern Beternak Ayam. Yasa Guna. Bogor.

Stadleman WJ and Cotterill OJ. 1973. Egg science and technology. The Avi. Publishing Co. Westrort, Connecticut. p. 28-45.

Utarayana. 1993.Pengayam–Ayaman.Percetakan Offset. Toko Buku Ria JL Plawa No 43, Denpasar Bali.

udayana university biosciences and biotechnology forum • 27