International Journal of Poultry Science
1682-8356
1994-7992
Asian Network for Scientific Information
10.3923/ijps.2003.275.279
Murad Ali
M. Farooq
F. R. Durrani
N. Chand
K. Sarbiland
A. Riaz
4
2003
2
4
The present study was conducted on broiler breeders maintained
in 24 different farms located in Mansehra and Abbotabad to investigate egg production
performance and develop standard limits for production traits of economic importance.
Average number of day-old chicks received at a broiler breeder farm was 19076.29,
out of which 16449.08 birds attained sexual maturity and were housed in laying
houses. Total hens housed represented 14037.32 females and 1559.70 males (a
male to female ratio of 1:9). Reserved male stock (852.06 birds) was 5.18% of
the total population. Average mortality during 323.46 days of growth and production
period was 13.77%, representing 2.97, 4.99 and 5.81% mortality during brooding,
growing and laying periods, respectively. Average age at point-of-lay, age at
peak-of-lay and egg laying period were 164.67, 232.83 and 155.46 days. Age at
point-of-lay (r = 0.227) and age at peak-of-lay (r = 0.333) were found positively
but non-significantly correlated with total mortality in a flock. On the other
hand flock size was found negatively correlated with age at point (r = -0.052)
and age at peak-of lay (r = -0.415; p<0.04). Egg laying period was found negatively
but non-significantly correlated with flock size (r = -0.147) and positively
correlated with total mortality in a flock (r = 0.255). Egg laying period was
found positively and significantly (P<0.027) associated with percent lay (b
= 5.770). Average peak percent lay and percent lay was 83.09 and 59.67%, respectively.
Percent lay was found non-significantly and positively correlated with flock
size (r=0.184) and mortality ( = 0.085). Similar findings were observed for
peak percent lay. Percent lay was found positively and significantly (P<0.033)
associated with peak percent lay (b = 0.625). Peak percent lay was found negatively
associated with age at peak of lay (b = -0.324; P<0.001) and positively associated
with age at point of lay (b = 0.891; P<0.001). Average hen-day and hen-housed
egg production was 103.32 and 95.10 eggs, respectively. Hen-day (r = -0.067)
and hen-housed egg production (r = -0.074) was found negatively and non-significantly
correlated with flock size. Hen-day egg production was found positively associated
with peak percent lay (b = 1.600; P<0.035) and egg laying period (b = 0.627;
P<0.001). Percent lay, peak percent lay, egg laying period and hen-day and hen-housed
egg production was lower than that reported in the literature. Standard limits
for minimum number of hens to be housed, maximum level of mortality, maximum
age at point of lay, maximum age at peak of lay, minimum peak percent lay, minimum
percent lay, egg laying period in response to percent lay and egg laying period
in response to hen-day production were 4172.21 birds, 13.11%, 164.36 days, 35.33
weeks, 79.99%, 67.64%, 28.06 weeks and 65.54 weeks, respectively. The standard
limits mentioned for various traits shall be maintained in order to make broiler
farming more productive.]]>