One of the solutions in ensuring adequate supply of animal protein is the kuroiler chicken and Noiler chicken.
As a way of meeting the food requirements of the increasing global population, there has to be an increase in food production, hence several means must be devised to ensure even and adequate supply of food for the populace. Consequently, raising of chicken has become a fast growing agribusiness.
Protein being one of the essential and most important nutrients has alot of demand. Animal protein is undoubtedly the best form of protein that supplies essential amino acid for growth and tissue development. The plant source is another good source of protein but most plants source of protein contains antinutritional factors.
For example, the antinutritional factors in soybean has rendered it inefficient in terms of supply of adequate protein. This virtue has made chicken meat a more preferred source of protein over other meat.
The kuroiler and Noiler chicken have been desirable due to certain reasons; they are hybrid breeds of chicken that was developed to meet the increasing demand for chicken, it is resistant to poultry disease, they are good converter of feed and are also dual purpose breed with relatively good yield compared to other breeds of chicken.
Though some farmers think Kuroiler and Noiler chicken are the same because of their plumage, but they are not the same.
Characteristics of Noiler chicken
The Noiler chicken was developed in Nigeria in Amo farm sieberer hatchery. It is a hybrid of broiler and cockerel, hence it shares desirable traits in both broiler and cockerel.
1. Appearance: Noiler chicken comes in varying colors like yellow, white, black, brown, and grey patches.
2.Growth rate:
Noiler chicken consumes more feed and are good converter of the feed thus they grow faster. They can attain up to 3-4kg within two months unlike broiler that might take up to 6 months to attain 2kg. They are good foragers and can thrive well on forage and kitchen waste.
3. Noiler meat
Noiler is a white meat and is more nutritious, it is tough and has a distinct indigenous taste which makes it sweeter compared to other breeds. Their meat production remains high as long as you feed them and take good care of them. They are more disease resistant than other breeds of chicken. They mature within 12 weeks and will be ready for slaughter, and also their meat is evenly distributed all over their body.
4. Egg production: Noiler chicken begins to lay eggs at about 22 weeks old, and once they start, it’s lasts for about 2 years, the size of their eggs is big and with good quality both internal and external. They can lay up to 200 eggs per year. When compared to our local chicken, their eggs are bigger with dark-yellow yolk.
Noiler chicken is a huge form of relief to farmers as it has a better yield, good feed conversion rate and when kept in a disease free environment, they do well throughout the four months.
Characteristics of kuroiler chicken
The kuroiler chicken is a hybrid breed of chicken which originated in India, it adapts to all forms of climatic condition and can also thrive well on forages and kitchen waste. The kuroiler chicken is a result of a cross between either white leghorn rooster with Rhode island red hens or colored broiler rooster crossed with Rhode island red hens.
1. Appearance
Kuroiler chicken comes in various colors like black, yellow, brown, white and grey patches.
2. Growth rate
They grow faster than Noiler chicken, but are best reared in a free-range system or semi intensive system where they scavenge what they eat by themselves.
As a result of their genetic makeup, they do not convert formulated feed better than they do for forages, hence it’s advisable to let them feed on forages instead of formulated feed.
3. Kuroiler meat
When allowed to feed on forages they can attain up to 5kg within 4 months. Their meat is very nutritious.
4. Egg production
They can lay up to 150-200 eggs per year, and they start laying at about 4 months which is earlier than Noiler chicken.
5. Resistance to disease
Kuroiler are more resistant to disease than Noiler, Noiler is easily susceptible to coccidiosis unlike kuroiler. Also, deformities in kuroiler is reduced compared to other breeds.
Both kuroiler and Noiler chicken do not brood, i.e they do not sit on their eggs to hatch, they are collected and hatched with the aid of an incubator.
Both kuroiler and Noiler chicken are easy to raise, they are more effective and better converter of feed. A farmer can earn more with little input and effort.