TY - JOUR N1 - Department of Animal Production, Agronomy Faculty, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niamey, Niger; Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Resources, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, 4000, Belgium; GIGA�??Animal Facilities�??ULiege�??B 34, Liege, 4000, Belgium; Department of Animal Production, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger, Niamey, Niger; Department of equine clinical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, 4000, Belgium UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85153307360&doi=10.36380%2fjwpr.2023.15&partnerID=40&md5=0c14cf1f1d4509bfa70285355baf4226 SP - 136 Y1 - 2023/03/25/ AV - public A1 - Taffa, A.G. A1 - Hamani, B. A1 - Moula, N. A1 - Issa, S. A1 - Mahamadou, C. A1 - Detilleux, J. KW - Growth curve; Hygrometry; Local chicken; Temperature; Weight gain EP - 142 VL - 13 SN - 2322-455X TI - Effects of Sex and Rearing Season on Body Weight Gain and Growth Curve Parameters of Local Chickens in Niger N2 - Local chicken breeding is widespread in Niger, a country with harsh environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sex, temperature, and hygrometry variations on the body weight gain and growth curve of local Nigerien chickens. Two groups of local chickens were followed from hatching to 20 weeks of age. The first and second groups consisted of 96 and 124 chickens, respectively. Three seasons were identified based on continuously recording ambient temperature and humidity over a year. The dry and warm seasons (February, March, April, and May), the wet and warm seasons (June, July, August, and September), and the dry and cold seasons (October, November, December, and January). The average hatch weight was about 24 g, and monthly body weight gains ranged from 100 to 360 g. Asymptotic weights were 2214.02 ± 69.94 g and 1776.93 ± 63.57 g for roosters and 1380.25 ± 25.96 g and 1433.08 ± 71.24 g for hens. The sexual maturity rates indicate that hens are more precocious than roosters. Sex and season had significant impacts on the growth performance of the chickens. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that the optimal time to raise local chickens in rural Niger is from June to January, and males are better candidates for meat production © 2022, Journal of World's Poultry Research.All Rights Reserved. PB - Scienceline Publication, Ltd JF - Journal of World's Poultry Research IS - 1 ID - eprints762 ER -