Egg production and certain behavioural characteristics and mortality pattern of indigenous chicken of India

2016 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
P.G. Kumar ◽  
R.R. Churchil ◽  
A. Jalaludeen ◽  
K. Narayanankutty ◽  
P.A. Peethambaran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Indigenous Chicken ◽  
Mortality Pattern ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Production Characteristics

Summary A survey to document the behaviour characteristics and mortality pattern of indigenous chicken of Kerala and a field egg recording study to record egg production characteristics of these birds were conducted. Flight distance and height was 13.29 and 3.97 m, respectively. The territory radius of cocks was 121.15 m. The chick survivability at 4 weeks of age was 64.98 percent. The day-old and 8th week body weights were 28.83 and 347.24 g, respectively. The 20th and 40th week body weight of males were 1,428.42 and 1,936.67 g and that of females were 1,114.04 and 1,445.63 g, respectively. The mortality up to 72 weeks was 69.38 percent and major cause of mortality during chick, grower and layer stage were mongoose (44.63 percent), wolf (24.29 percent) and diseases (52.18 percent) respectively. The fertility was 71.22 percent and hatchability on total and fertile egg set were 62.26 and 87.42 percent, respectively. There were 2.13 clutches in a laying cycle with inter-clutch intervals of 1.11 days. The average clutch size and number of eggs per cycle were 7.27 and 14.32, respectively. The egg number up to 72 weeks on hen-day and hen-housed basis was 116.81 and 85.84, respectively and the eggs were laid in 7.7 cycles. The age at first egg and average age at sexual maturity were 155 and 199.26 days, respectively. The egg weight at 28, 40 and 72 weeks of age was 37.80, 40.74 and 43.31 g, respectively, and egg mass per bird was 4,659.04 g. The broodiness and incubation pause were 26.03 and 121.75 days, respectively.

Genetic parameters for egg weight v. age curve, and other egg production and egg weight traits, in synthetic lines of chickens

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
BH Yoo ◽  
BL Sheldon ◽  
RN Podger
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Control Line ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Selection For

An exponential curve, W = P-Qexp(- Rt), where W is egg weight at age t, was fitted to egg weights of individual pullets, and genetic parameters were estimated for P, Q and R, the residual standard deviation and other egg weight and egg production characters. The data consisted of records collected over six generations on more than 4000 pullets in two selection lines and a control line which originated from a synthetic gene pool of White Leghorn x Australorp crosses. The half-sib and offspring-on-parent regression estimates of heritability pooled over the lines were 0.23 and 0.33 for P, 0.14 and 0.20 for Q, and 0.14 and 0.25 for R. Genetic correlations were estimated to be -0.10 between P and Q, -0.46 between P and R, and 0.90 between Q and R. These estimates suggest that the egg weight v. age curve may be modified to increase the proportion of eggs in desirable weight grades and reduce the incidence of oversized eggs later in the production year. The genetic correlation between mean weight of first 10 eggs and egg weight at 62 weeks of age was estimated to be 0.68, further suggesting that early egg weight may be improved partly independently of late egg weight. The heritability estimates of egg mass output were not higher than those of egg number in spite of the highly heritable average egg weight being an important component of egg mass, probably because of the negative genetic correlation (r = -0.49) between egg number and average egg weight. The standard deviation of individual pullet's egg weights was moderately heritable and genetically correlated positively with egg weight characters and negatively with egg production; these estimates were consistent with the responses to selection for reduced egg weight variability observed elsewhere

Effect of constant photoperiods on the laying performance of broiler breeders allowed conventional or accelerated growth

2005 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. LEWIS ◽  
D. BACKHOUSE ◽  
R. M. GOUS
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sexual Development ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Broiler Breeders ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Laying Performance ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Accelerated Growth

An experiment was conducted at the University of KwaZulu–Natal to assess the effect of constant photoperiods on sexual maturity and egg-laying performance in broiler breeders given two levels of control-feeding during the rearing phase. Cobb broiler breeder females were grown to reach 2·1 kg body weight at 17 or 21 weeks, and maintained on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16-h photoperiods from 2 days to 68 weeks of age. There were no significant interactions between photoperiod and growth rate for any production parameter. The time required reaching 2·1 kg increased proportionally with photoperiod but, because of delayed sexual development, birds on longer photoperiods consumed more feed to, and were heavier at, sexual maturity than shorter daylengths. The longer-photoperiod birds also had inferior rates of lay in the first half of the cycle, but superior in the second, which, together with the photoperiodic effects on maturity, resulted in birds on 11, 13 or 14 h producing most eggs to 68 weeks, and those on 16 h fewest. It is possible that the pattern of egg production was due to some of the birds on [ges ]13-h photoperiods becoming photorefractory, having a mid-cycle pause, and then spontaneously resuming egg production in the latter half of the cycle. However, a hinge-analysis of current and other data to the more usual depletion age of 60 weeks showed that the combined effects of photoperiod on sexual maturity and egg production resulted in constant 10-h birds producing the highest number of eggs, with numbers decreasing by 3·6 eggs/h of photoperiod above the hinge and 7·8 eggs/h of photoperiod below it. Mean egg weight increased by 0·4 g/h of photoperiod, but the proportion of abnormally large and floor eggs and the incidence of mortality were unaffected by daylength. For each photoperiod, accelerated growth resulted in body weights being heavier than controls at sexual maturity, despite the mean age at maturity being 10 days earlier for the faster-growing birds. Body weights for the two growth groups were not significantly different at 68 weeks. Faster-growth birds consumed 1 kg less feed to 2·1 kg body weight, but 1·3 kg more feed to sexual maturity and 2·7 kg more to 68 weeks, and produced 6 more eggs than, but had similar patterns of egg production to, the conventionally managed controls. Mean egg weight, the proportion of floor eggs and the incidence of mortality were similar for both groups. Notwithstanding that the overall production of abnormally large eggs was low (1·1 eggs per bird); the faster-growing birds produced significantly more than the controls. Egg weight was positively influenced by age at sexual maturity, body weight at sexual maturity and photoperiod, but was unaffected by rate of growth to 2·1 kg per se.These findings show that there are differences between broiler breeders and egg-type pullets in their response to constant photoperiods. It is likely that the factors responsible for these differences, particularly in terms of sexual development, are the exhibition of photorefractoriness by, and the retardational effects of controlled feeding on, broiler breeders.

scholarly journals Conservation of purelines and their performances under research farm condition

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
MA Rashid ◽  
MS Rana ◽  
MN Islam ◽  
S Faruque ◽  
H Khatun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Breeding Programme ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Pure Lines

The study was conducted at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute to evaluate the productive and reproductive performances of 4 pure lines conserving for the production of next generation. A total of 2000 pedigree hatched day-old chicks were wing banded and reared up to 40 weeks of age. Data were kept on daily feed intake (g/bird/day), weekly body weight (g), age at sexual maturity (days), daily egg production (%) and egg weight (g). There were highly significant differences (p<0.01) in body weight at 38 weeks, age at sexual maturity, egg production up to 40 weeks and egg weight at 38 weeks of age among the treatment groups. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in fertility, hatchability, dead in germ, sound chick and dead in shell percentage among the treatment except cull chicks where L1 showed the highest percent of cull chicks.  Egg production at 23-28 and 35-40 weeks of age differ significantly (p<0.01) except at 29-34 weeks of age (p>0.05). Significant variations for FCR observed at 35-40 weeks of age while it was non-significant (p>0.05) at 23-28 and 29-34 weeks of age. It is revealed that line-2 is superior in terms of egg production, age at sexual maturity and egg mass where line-1 was better in terms of FCR value. Considering the results it may be concluded that there are significant variations exists regarding egg production performances among the experimental pure lines, thus could be utilized successfully for the production of high yielding strains through proper breeding programme. Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 20(1-2): 26-32, Jan-Dec 2013

scholarly journals PERFORMANCES OF THE INDIGENOUS CHICKENS OF NIGERIA AND THE APOLLO 1. EGG WEIGHT, RATE OF PRODUCTION AND FACTORS AFFECTING THEM

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-79
Author(s):  
A. Osu ◽  
D. Almut
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Indigenous Chicken ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Indigenous Chickens ◽  
Breed Differences ◽  
Two Generations

Data on the Ife Breed of the indigenous chicken and the Apollo, an imported commercial egg strain were analysed for effect of breed, time and generation of hatch, body weight at various ages, and age at sexual maturity on egg weight and rate of egg production to eight months. There were highly significant generation and breed differences, with a mean of 116 eggs for the Ife Breed compared to 106 for the Apollo over two generations. Other factors that significantly affected egg production were body weight and age at sexual maturity, and mature egg weight. Mean pullet year egg weight showed breed and hatch differences and were significantly affected by body weight and age at sexual maturity. Mean egg weight for the Ife Breed was 32.3 compared to 48.7 for the Apollo.

scholarly journals Direct and correlated responses to selection in two flocks of White Leghorn

1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-414
Author(s):  
G. S. Brah ◽  
M. L. Chaudhary ◽  
J. S. Sandhu
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Control Line ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Realized Genetic Gains ◽  
D 20

Abstract. Data on 17,588 pulletes of two strains selected for egg number and egg weight along with a control line were examined over seven generations. Significant desirable realized genetic gains/generation were observed for egg number to 40 weeks (2.18 and 2.23 eggs) and egg weight (0.81 and 0.45g) in both the strains. Significant correlated responses were also observed in age at first egg (−1.54 and −1.17 d); 20 and 40 week body weights (8.8 to 19.0). Significant desirable responses were also observed for egg mass (175 and 151g), rate of lay (1.0 and 1.37%), egg production efficiency (0.08 and 0.07) and efficiency index (1.09 and 1.03 g/d/kg) Natural selection did not seem to play any role. Inbreeding of 0.28 to 0.45% per generation did not appear to be of any significance in affecting the performance and heritabilities. The additive genetic and phenotypic variances and heritabilities remained stable over generations. Realized heritabilities varied between 0 18 and 0.29 for egg number and between 0.44 and 0.66 for egg weight and indicated the effectiveness of the criterion of selection.

THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF WHEAT SCREENINGS AS A FEED INGREDIENT FOR ADULT LEGHORN HENS

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-797
Author(s):  
F. G. PROUDFOOT ◽  
H. W. HULAN
Keyword(s):  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Feed Ingredient ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Key Words Wheat ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Biological Performance ◽  
Ground Wheat

Nine hundred and twenty Leghorn hens were used in two experiments designed to evaluate the effects of feeding adult diets containing ground wheat screenings at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60% of diets which were calculated to be isoenergic and isonitrogeneous. Results from both experiments reveal that there were no significant (P > 0.05) dietary effects for mortality, egg production, egg specific gravity, egg Haugh units or body weights. The higher dietary levels of wheat screenings were associated with a significant (P < 0.05) linear depression in feed efficiency. In exp. 2 hens fed the diet with 60% wheat screenings were significantly delayed in reaching a 50% rate of egg production and laid eggs which, at 182 d of age, weighed significantly less than eggs laid by hens fed diets with lower levels of wheat screenings; but as these results did not occur in exp. 1 these effects on sexual maturity and egg weight are inconclusive. It can be stated that layer diets may contain up to 45% wheat screenings without the expectation of a depression in biological performance. Key words: Wheat screenings, diets, Leghorn hens

scholarly journals ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BODY WEIGHT AND SOME EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS IN A STRAIN OF COMMERCIAL LAYER

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
K. L. AYORINDE ◽  
A. A. TOYE
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Shell Thickness ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Weight Range ◽  
Quadratic Equations ◽  
Satisfactory Performance ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Egg Number

Fifty 28 weeks old layers were reared in individual cages for 9 Weeks to detect the effect weight has on some production traits. Body Weight was positively though non- significantly (P.0.05) correlated with egg number, egg weight and negatively with Shell thickness (r =-0.12) and egg index (r=-0.15). Estimates of optimum 28-week body weights, as determined from second-degree (quadratic) equations, indicated that for satisfactory performance a body weight range of 1728 to 1814g is required, Breeding and good management especially feeding are thought to be capable of maintaining this weight range.

scholarly journals NET GENETIC AND TEMPORARY EPISTATIC OR MATERNAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES TO SELECTION FOR EGG PRODUCTION IN CHICKENS

Genetics ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-321
Author(s):  
G L Bennett ◽  
G E Dickerson ◽  
R S Gowe ◽  
A J McAllister ◽  
J A B Emsley
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Mass Selection ◽  
Total Response ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Egg Masses ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Maternal Responses

ABSTRACT The difference between progeny from selected and unselected parents (T) was experimentally partitioned into net genetic change (GA), temporary favorable epistatic combinations (GEP) and egg-transmitted maternal environment (M) in two strains of Leghorns selected over 14 years for early pure-strain egg production. Differences among progeny from selected sires and dams, selected sires only, selected dams only, unselected sires and dams and the parental generation were equated to expected GA, GEP and M responses for each trait. Total response was 3.3% for early egg number, 3.7% for total egg number, 0.5% for egg weight, 3.8% for early egg mass and 4.2% for total egg mass. Among progeny that survived the test period and were judged to be normal, total response was 2.6% for total number of eggs, 3.0% for early egg mass and 3.1% for total egg mass. The percentage of T attributed to GA was 9% for early egg number, 24% for total egg number, 43% for early egg mass and 47% for total egg mass; but 52% for total egg number, 98% for early egg mass and 71% for total egg mass of normal survivors. Temporary maternal selection responses (M) were (1) positive for number of eggs and egg masses, (2) greater for all progeny than for normal survivors, and (3) increased with progeny age. The results suggest that M was caused by reduced egg-transmitted disease. Epistatic selection response was positive for earlier sexual maturity and for number of eggs, but negative for egg weight and thus was small for egg masses. Temporary epistatic and maternal responses can explain overestimation of additive genetic response from offspring-parent regression or from replicated single-generation selection and apparent superiority of mass selection over family or combined selection.

The influence of body weight at point-of-lay on the production responses of restricted-reared pullets

1984 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 845 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Balnave
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Time Restriction

The food intake, age at sexual maturity, egg weight and daily egg mass output of pullets fed on a time restriction basis during growth were significantly influenced by body weight at 21 weeks of age. Egg production was not affected significantly when 21-week body weight varied between 1.3 and 1.8 kg. It is suggested that one of the major factors influencing the performance of a pullet flock during lay is the number of birds of abnormally low body weight present at the end of the growing period.

scholarly journals Crossing effect for improving egg production traits in chickens involving local and commercial strains

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-412
Author(s):  
Mostafa Ahmed Soliman ◽  
Mohamed Hassan Khalil ◽  
Karim El-Sabrout ◽  
Mostafa Kamel Shebl
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Local Strain ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Reciprocal Effects ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Commercial Strain ◽  
Egg Traits

Aim: This study aimed to contribute to the productivity improvement of the local chickens by enhancing their egg production traits using a crossbreeding program between Alexandria (local strain) and Lohmann White (commercial strain). Materials and Methods: One thousand two-hundred and eighty-five 4-week-old chicks from two strains: Alexandria local strain (AA) and Lohmann White commercial strain (LL) and their reciprocal crosses obtained from 16 males and 160 females, were used to produce four genetic groups (AA, LL, AL, and LA). Differences among genotypes, direct additive, heterosis, and reciprocal effects were investigated regarding the following traits: Body weight at 4 and 8 weeks and at the age of sexual maturity, age at sexual maturity, egg production, average egg weight, and egg mass during the first 90 days of laying. Results: Statistically significant effects of the genotypes were observed on traits studied. Analysis of direct additive effects showed that AA was superior as a sire strain for improving body weight at early age. For egg traits (age at sexual maturity, egg production, average egg weight, and egg mass), LL was better as a sire strain to improve these traits. Significant positive heterosis percentages were observed for body weight. The crosses (AL and reciprocal) were significantly superior in egg traits (egg production, average egg weight, and egg mass) compared to the local strain. The cross (LA) laid significantly earlier than the local strain. Analysis of reciprocal effects cleared that the local strain could be used as a strain of dam to improve body weight and egg traits. Conclusion: Crossing improved egg production, egg weight, and egg mass in hybrids compared to the local strain.

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