Egg production performance of 571 local Ghanaian chickens and 107 SASSO T44 chickens kept under improved management conditions were analysed. Average egg weight, hen-day egg production and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined for the three experimental chicken ecotypes. Hen-day production was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the savannah local chicken ecotype than the forest ecotype and SASSO T44 chickens. Egg weights of local Ghanaian chickens compared favourably with values reported for local chickens in Africa. On the average, SASSO T44 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher egg weights and feed intake compared with the local chicken ecotypes. The local chicken ecotypes on the other hand, had significantly (P < 0.05) better feed conversion ratios than SASSO T44 chicken. Local Ghanaian chicken ecotypes have a more efficient FCR per every unit of egg produced compared with the control population. Low feed intake, good feed conversion ratios and adaptation to the environment are traits local chicken harbour which can be exploited in future breeding programmes to improve on chicken meat and egg production in Ghana. Ghanaian local chickens could thus be a valuable genetic resource for the development of an efficient egg production chicken breed adaptable to the humid tropical climates.

Animals should have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental pressures to ensure sustainable productivity. The easier an animal can adapt to disease burdens without extra cost to the farmer, the more profitable the enterprise becomes. Effective immune response protects organisms against disease insults and contributes to improved productivity. Primary immune response of Ghanaian local, Sasso T-44 and broiler chickens to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigens was measured 5 days post-inoculation. Antibody levels were determined by haemagglutination. Local ecotypes and Sasso T-44 chicken were superior to broilers in terms of their ability to respond to antigens. Female chickens produced more antibodies in response to increased concentration of SRBC antigens while the opposite was true in the male population. Further investigation of the genetic correlation between production performance and immune response of various chicken breeds will help establish the effect of, for example, high growth rate of broilers on their immunological status.