Effects of altering growth curve and age at photostimulation in female broiler breeders. 1. Reproductive development

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Renema ◽  
F. E. Robinson ◽  
P. R. Goerzen
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curve ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Broiler Breeder ◽  
Carcass Parameters ◽  
Ovarian Morphology ◽  
Plasma Estradiol ◽  
Broiler Breeder Hens ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of differences in growth curve and age at photostimulation on carcass traits and ovarian morphology in broiler breeder hens at photostimulation and at sexual maturity. Pullets were grown on one of three growth curves STD (standard), LOW (150 g lighter than STD) and HIGH (150 g heavier than STD), and were photostimulated at either 19 wk of age (19WK) or 21 wk of age (21WK). Weekly blood samples were taken between photostimulation and sexual maturity for determination of estradiol-17β concentration. Twelve birds per interaction were processed at photostimulation for determination of carcass and reproductive morphology, followed by an additional 10 birds per interaction at sexual maturity. Unless otherwise stated, all significance was assessed at the P < 0.05 level. At photostimulation, the HIGH birds were larger and had more carcass lipid (7.44%) than the LOW birds (6.22%). By sexual maturity, carcass lipid as a percentage of BW was similar among the growth curve groups, as were the weights of most carcass parameters measured relative to BW. The large yellow follicle content of ovaries from LOW, STD, and HIGH birds were not different. Ovaries from HIGH birds had 48.2% of large yellow follicles arranged in multiple sets (large yellow follicles weighing within 1 g) compared to 29.5% in STD birds. Birds photostimulated earlier took longer to lay their first egg after photostimulation (19WK = 41.3 d, 21WK = 35.1 d), although this still occurred at a younger age (19WK = 174.3 d of age, 21W K = 182.1 d of age). The profile of plasma estradiol-17β concentration of the 19WK birds appeared to increase more slowly than for the 21WK pullets. As plasma estradiol-17β concentration will increase at a regular rate once it begins to increase, the flatter summary profile of 19WK pullets may be indicative of a less-uniform response to photostimulation. Based on the BW growth curves used in this trial and data collected at photostimulation and sexual maturity, there was no advantage of early photostimulation, and ovarian morphology may be negatively affected by moderate increases in rearing growth curve. Key words: Broiler breeder, sexual maturity, ovarian morphology, growth curve, body weight

Effects of altering growth curve and age at photostimulation in female broiler breeders. 2. Egg production parameters

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Renema ◽  
F. E. Robinson ◽  
P. R. Goerzen ◽  
M. J. Zuidhof
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curve ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Sequence Length ◽  
Broiler Breeder ◽  
Production Parameters ◽  
Breeder Hens ◽  
Broiler Breeder Hens ◽  
Egg Production Rate

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of differences in growth curve and age at photostimulation on egg production parameters and carcass traits at 61 wk of age in broiler breeder hens. Pullets were grown on one of three growth curves: STD (standard), LOW (150g lighter than STD) and HIGH (150 g heavier than STD ), and photostimulated at either 19 wk of age (19WK) or 21 wk of age (21WK). The egg production and BW of 36 birds per interaction were individually monitored from photostimulation to 61 wk of age. Individual, daily egg production records were analyzed for total, settable, and defective egg production, rate of production, sequence length, and egg weight. Eggs were incubated for determination of fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality parameters. All birds remaining at 61 wk of age were processed for determination of carcass and reproductive morphology. Unless otherwise stated, all significance was assessed at the P < 0.05 level.

Effects of chronic progesterone injection on performance, plasma hormones and ovarian morphology of feed-satiated and fed restricted broiler breeder hens

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 204-204
Author(s):  
M Zaghari ◽  
R Taherkhani ◽  
S Honarbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Single Injection ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Broiler Breeder ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Breeder Hens ◽  
Chronic Dose ◽  
Ovarian Morphology ◽  
Broiler Breeder Hens ◽  
Chronic Injection ◽  
Plasma Hormones

Single injection of chronic dose of P4 in laying hens during the preovulatory open period has been shown to have positive effects on inducing a preovulatory LH surge and ovulation (Johnson et al., 1985). However, chronic injection of P4 has been shown to increase baseline concentrations of P4 and result in arrested laying and disrupted distribution of hierarchical follicles in turkeys (Bacon and Liu, 2004). The current study was designed to examine the effects of a simulated progesterone surge (by injection of chronic dose of P4) on broiler breeder hens performance, ovary morphology, plasma metabolites and hormones concentrations in either feed-satiated or feed-restricted hens.

Changes in the feather-free body of broiler breeder hens after sexual maturity

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Nonis ◽  
R. M. Gous
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Content ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Initial Increase ◽  
Body Lipid ◽  
Broiler Breeder ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Breeder Hens ◽  
Broiler Breeder Hens ◽  
Free Body ◽  
Maintenance Requirements

Changes in the feather-free body (water, lipid and protein) of broiler breeder hens was measured at intervals between 15 and 60 weeks of age to provide information that could be used as the basis for predicting their maintenance requirements. The mean weight of feather-free body protein varied between 348 and 379 g at 15–20 weeks, increasing to 648 g by 40 weeks and then remaining relatively constant for the rest of the laying period. Mean body lipid content increased from 160 g at 15 weeks to 711 g at 60 weeks. The initial increase in feather-free body protein weight can be ascribed to increases in ovary and oviduct weights as the birds become sexually mature, and to the variation in ages at which this development takes place. Our conclusion is that changes in bodyweight in broiler breeders after sexual maturity are mainly in body lipid content, this being a consequence of the way in which the birds are fed, and that any gain in body and feather protein occurs only in hens that are out of lay. We suggest that it should not be necessary to assume that protein and lipid growth is obligatory when determining nutrient requirements of broiler breeder hens.

Growth of Grey Kangaroos and the Reliability of Age Determination from Body Measurements II.* The Western Grey Kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus, M. f. melanops and M. f. ocydromus

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
WE Poole ◽  
SM Carpenter ◽  
JT Wood
Keyword(s):  
Growth Curve ◽  
Young Animal ◽  
Age Determination ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
First Year ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Grey Kangaroo ◽  
Pass Through

Seven body measurements were taken at regular intervals throughout life from both male and female western grey kangaroos of known birth date. For each sex of three subspecies and for each body measurement a growth curve was fitted, and confidence intervals calculated for determining the age of new animals. As with eastern grey kangaroos, a phase change in the growth curve was apparent at the time when the young vacate the pouch. Join points in the curve for each subspecies of western grey kangaroos were estimated empirically, as three-quarters through the interval between first emergence and final vacation of the pouch by a young animal. The growth curves were represented by a four-parameter non-linear model consisting of two hyperbolas constrained to pass through the common point. Tables presented contrast the ages at which percentile growth values are attained for each subspecies, and also provide examples of the determination of age from body measurements for both males and females, at monthly intervals during their first year. As found for the eastern grey kangaroo, head length proved to be the most reliable criterion, and all measurements of animals older than 2 years were unreliable for age determination.

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