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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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2015 - 20193
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Subject: Poultry Science × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SELECTION FOR EGG PRODUCTION IN NATIVE CHICKEN AND PERFORMANCE OF ITS CROSSBREDS WITH WHITE LEGHORN
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, 2019-12-30) HARIKRISHNAN S
    A study was conducted at All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry for Eggs, Mannuthy centre, to evaluate the phenotypic and production characteristics of native chicken of Kerala and to improve its egg production through selection. From the base generation (G0) of native chicken, 775 female and 200 male native chicken (G1) were produced through a pedigreed hatch and the pullets were evaluated till 40 weeks of age for their production performance. Based on egg number 40, selection was carried out in the population using Osborne’s index and 300 dams and 50 sires were selected for producing G2 generation through a pedigreed hatch. The pullets were evaluated for their production performance till 40 weeks of age. Heritability and correlation estimates were also worked out for egg production and various correlated traits of native chicken in both G1 and G2 generations. The native chicken of Kerala had a hen housed production of 69.83 eggs, hen day egg production of 70.72 and survivor’s egg production of 70.97. Based on the selection for egg number 40 in G1 generation of native chicken, the hen day egg production (4.56 eggs) and survivor’s egg production (5.90 eggs) was significantly (p<0.05) improved but the improvement in hen housed egg production was not evident due to higher mortality occurred in G2 generation as a result of incidence of neoplastic disease of infectious origin in the flock. However, a positive phenotypic response of 2.26 eggs was obtained on hen housed basis as a result of selection for egg number 40 in G1 generation. The age at sexual maturity of native chicken was significantly (p<0.05) improved in G2 generation. Improvement was noticed in the clutch size of the birds in G2 generation while per cent broodiness was reduced as a result of selection for egg number 40. The majority of egg shell colour noticed in native chicken of Kerala was tinted followed by medium brown, white and light brown. The performance of egg quality, fertility and hatchability percentage were comparable in both generations. The sire+dam component of heritability (h²s+d ) for ASM was 0.464 in G1 generation and 0.238 in G2 generation. For the trait egg number at 40 weeks of age, the values observed were 0.364 and 0.218 in G1 and G2 generation, respectively. The realised heritability worked out was 0.19. The h²s+d estimates for egg weight in G1 and G2 generation had no much variation among generation, consequent to selection. The phenotypic correlation (rp) between body weight 16 and egg number 40 was of low magnitude while egg number and egg weights were nearing zero. The rp between ASM and egg number was negative. Genetic correlation (rg) between body weight 16 and egg number, between egg weight 28 and egg weight 40 were positive with high magnitude while ASM with egg number was strong negative. The rg between egg number and egg weights was not significant. Upon estimating genetic correlation, it was evident that correlation between most of the traits was higher in G1.The average effective selection differential for egg number 40 in the generation was 12.03 and the selection intensity was 0.45. The genetic parameters and phenotypic response for egg production and various correlated traits revealed that there is further scope for selection in native chicken of Kerala to improve its egg production. The study was also aimed at evaluating the production performances of the selected native chicken in G1 and G2 generation with improved ‘N’ strain of White Leghorn (IWN). Based on the results of crossbreds (Native x IWN), significantly (p<0.05) higher number of eggs with early sexual maturity in birds was observed for the progeny of the birds with IWN as sire and native chicken as dam (ND) than its reciprocal cross (DN). The performance of the crossbreds with respect to egg weight and egg quality traits was comparable. The feed intake was higher for ND birds compared to DN, while livability, broodiness and presence of fawn colour plumage was higher for DN birds compared to ND. Based on the study of the crossbreds, it could be observed that ND birds were better in egg production while DN birds were better in terms of livability, broodiness and plumage. However, field trials have to be conducted to confirm the present results under backyard conditions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DEVELOPMENT OF A MEAT LINE OF KUTTANAD DUCKS (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, 2016-12-30) STELLA CYRIAC; Leo Joseph
    A selection experiment was conducted in Kuttanad ducks at University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University with the objective of developing a meat line. One thousand and eighty eight day-old Kuttanad ducklings procured from progressive farmers of Kerala formed the base generation (S0). Based on body weight at eighth week, top ranking 150 females and 25 males were selected through individual selection method. From the 25 sire families, 979, 969 and 1610 ducklings were produced by artificial insemination in S1, S2 and S3 generation in pedigreed hatches. Body weight, feed consumption and mortality were recorded at fortnightly intervals till 12th week of age in each generation. Genetic parameters for body weight at 8, 10 and 12 weeks were estimated using full sib correlation method. Selection differential, intensity of selection and response to selection were calculated for body weight at 8 weeks. Carcass characteristics were evaluated at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age in four generations. The body weight at 18 and 40 weeks, feed consumption from 13 to 40 weeks, age at first egg and age at 10 and 50 per cent production, duck housed egg production and egg weight at 30 and 40 weeks were recorded in the selected parent stock of S0, S1 and S2 generations. The mean body weight at 8 weeks was 1103.38 g in the S0 generation. An improvement of 270.51 g could be recorded at 8 weeks in S3 generation. The period of active weight gain was shifted to 4th and 6th week in S3 generation whereas it was 8th week in the previous generations. The total per cent of observations above 1200 g weight increased over generations and the increase is more pronounced at 8 weeks of age. The results also indicate that a compensatory growth mechanism is present in ducks wherein the lower body weight in the early stages of growth are compensated in the subsequent weeks and they attain 90 per cent of the adult body weight by 12 weeks of age. The heritability estimates for body weight at 8 weeks of age based on sire plus dam components (h2 s+d) were 0.251, 0.313 and 0.243 in S1, S2 and S3 generations. The realised heritability was 0.60. High values were observed for phenotypic correlation between body weight at 8 and 10, 8 and 12 and 10 and 12 weeks of age. The genetic correlations were higher than the environmental correlations except in the sire component in S1 generation. The regression coefficients indicate that higher increase in body weight per generation was obtained for body weight at 8 weeks (94 g) rather than for body weight at 10 (56 g) and 12 weeks (55 g). S3 generation showed the lowest cumulative feed conversion ratio of 2.39 up to 8 weeks. The carcass characteristics of male and female Kuttanad ducks at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age showed that there was improvement in the eviscerated yield of carcass over generations and S3 generation attained the highest yield at 8 weeks. The performance of parent stock indicated that selection had not altered their egg production performance. Artificial Insemination at 5 days interval could achieve 89 per cent fertility in the parent stock. The results of the selection experiment indicate that selection for body weight at 8 weeks was effective in improving the body weight and a line of Kuttanad ducks with meat characteristics could be developed. The higher body weight, body weight gain and the distribution of birds in the higher weight groups reveal that the S3 generation of Kuttanad ducks possess the characteristics of a meat line. The trend observed in body weight gain, frequency distribution, response to selection and correlated responses as well as the high heritability and phenotypic correlation for body weight at 8 weeks establish that the criterion for selection (8th week body weight) employed in the present study was appropriate. The carcass characteristics especially the eviscerated yield and yield of cut-up parts over generations indicate that the meat producing potential of Kuttanad ducks has improved as a result of selection. It could be concluded that Kuttanad ducks could attain its optimum meat production characteristics at 8 weeks and hence it could be considered as the ideal age for processing.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF ENERGY LEVEL AND PARTICLE SIZE OF FEED ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF ATHULYA LAYER CHICKEN
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, 2015-12-30) BINOJ CHACKO; P. Anitha
    An experiment was carried out in Athulya layer chicken (Single Combed White Leghorn) from 17 to 64 weeks of age to evaluate the influence of ME levels (2200, 2400 and 2600 kcal/kg) and particle size (3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 mm) of feed on production performance, nutrient utilization and economics in a 3x3 factorial design. There were nine experimental diets and each diet was fed to five replicate groups constituted 10 birds each. All experimental diets were identical in calorie protein ratio as per BIS, 1992 specifications. The hen housed and hen day egg production from 17 to 64 weeks of age were comparable among birds fed diet containing different levels of ME and particle size. Daily feed intake and FCR was significantly (p<0.000) lower in birds fed diet containing ME level of 2600 kcal/kg than in birds fed diet with lower ME levels (2400 and 2200 kcal/kg). The effect of particle size of feed was not significant for daily feed intake and FCR. The egg weight and egg shell thicknesses of birds were not influenced by either dietary ME levels or particle size from 17 to 64 weeks of age. The body weight and body weight gain at 40 and 64 weeks of age was significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds fed diet containing ME level of 2600 kcal/kg than in birds fed diet containing lower ME levels (2400 and 2200 kcal/kg). The effect of particle size of feed was not significant for body weight and body weight gain at 40 and 64 weeks of age. The livability of birds was not influenced by either dietary ME levels or particle size from 17 to 64 weeks of age. The birds fed diet containing lower ME level of 2200 and 2400 kcal/kg had significantly (p<0.05) lower dry matter, gross energy, zinc and manganese utilization than birds fed on 2600 kcal/kg diet. The crude protein, crude fat, total ash, phosphorus and copper utilization were comparable among birds fed diet containing different levels of dietary ME. The birds fed diet containing lower ME level of 2200 kcal/kg had significantly (p<0.00) lower calcium utilization than birds fed diets containing higher dietary ME levels of 2400 and 2600 kcal/kg. The calcium utilization was significantly (p<0.016) higher in birds fed feed particle size