Productivity of Local Pigeon Fed with Cafetaria Method in Intensive Rearing

Abstract

This experiment has been done to evaluate productivity of local pigeon fed with corn or commercial feed using cafeteria method in pre-laying, hatching and production (squab suckling) phases in intensive rearing. There are 68 couples of local pigeon used in this experiment, and each couple is placed in individual cages. The results indicate that average of egg production is 1.8 eggs/couple/period, average of egg weight is 17.7 g, fertility is 96.6%, hatching rate is 77%, embryo mortality rate is 23%, interval period from laying up to hatching and suckling is 51 days, 31.4 days for period of hatching, and 17.6 days for period without (non) hatching and suckling. Each couple of local pigeon need 73.04 g feed/day in pre-laying phase, 60.38 g feed/day in hatching phase, and 91.75 g feed/day in suckling two squabs; these are based on the total feed consumptions of corn and commercial feed. During hatching phase, corn consumption is the same as commercial feed consumption in week I, II and III. During non-hatching phase, corn consumption differs from that of commercial feed consumption. During this phase, corn consumptions are the same in all weeks (I=II=III=IV); commercial feed consumption at week II is the lowest, but there is no different in commercial feed consumption at the other weeks (II<I=II=III). During squab suckling phase, there are differences in pattern of corn consumption from that of commercial feed consumption; corn consumption increases from week I up to week III (I<II<III=IV), commercial feed consumption at week I-III are lower than that at week IV (I=II=III<IV). In all phases, corn is more preferred than commercial feed, but the commercial feed can still be given and the best ratio between corn and the commercial feed is 60:40%. Squab weight increases up to the 4th week, then decrease in the 5th week. Growth rate is the highest at the 1st week, but then decreases from the 2nd up to the 5th weeks with the negative growth rate occurs at the 5th week. Squab growth rate follows a quadratic pattern with this formula: Y = 11.2 + 121t – 13.3t2. Feed conversion ratio up to the age of 4th week is 5.7. It is concluded that squab selection on the basis of slaughter weight can be done at the 4th week old.