A STUDY ON PERFORMANCE OF TWO BACKYARD CHICKEN VARIETIES WITH 25% ASEEL INHERITANCE
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Date
2013-11
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SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT :
The present study was aimed at evaluating two backyard chicken varieties (Type I and II) bred at AICRP on Poultry Breeding, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad with regard to their growth, productive and reproductive performances, immunocompetence and morphological traits.
Type I genetic group was bred such that it inherited 50% Black Australorp, 25% WLH and 25% Aseel inheritance, while the Type II genetic group was bred to have 50% Black Australorp, 25% Synthetic population and 25% Aseel inheritance. These varieties have completed two generations of inter - se breeding and the third generation chicks obtained in 8 hatches were used for the present study.
The genetic groups were not significantly different for body weights at different ages except at 4, 12 and 16 weeks of age. Males were significantly heavier than females at all ages in both the genetic groups except in Type I genetic group at 4 weeks of age.
The body weight of males in Type I and Type II genetic groups were 215.43 ± 5.71 and 207.86 ± 4.55 g at 4 weeks; 438.21 ± 6.72 and 446.93 ± 6.29 g at 8 weeks; 794.42 ± 7.85 and 789.11 ± 7.34 g at 12 weeks; 1222.70 ± 10.98 and 1214.60 ± 11.95 g at 16 weeks, 1700.50 ± 14.30 and 1717.20 ± 15.70 g at 20 weeks; 1902.80 ± 16.71 and 1912.70 ± 15.57 g at 24 weeks and 2086.40 ± 16.12 and 2077.80 ± 20.71 g at 40 weeks of age respectively. Similarly, the body weight of females in Type I and Type II genetic groups were 211.78 ± 3.58 and 185.77 ± 3.82 g at 4 weeks; 402.68 ± 5.16 and 408.07 ± 5.40 g at 8 weeks; 742.97 ± 6.27 and 708.66 ± 7.57 g at 12 weeks; 1027.00 ± 8.71 and 1109.00 ± 8.62 g at 16 weeks, 1213.80 ± 7.40 and 1241.50 ± 10.10 g at 20 weeks; 1480.30 ± 11.61 and 1489.10 ± 11.11 g at 24 weeks and 1580.40 ± 14.26 and 1571.60 ± 13.64 g at 40 weeks of age respectively. The two genetic groups did not differ significantly with regard to their reproductive traits Viz., AFE, Part year egg production up to forty weeks of age (EP40), Egg weight at 40 weeks of age (EW40), Fertility and Hatchability. The AFE was 173.20 ± 3.01 and 168.45 ± 0.62 days in Type I and II genetic groups. The mean EP40 was 68.46 ± 0.88 and 69.04 ± 0.96 eggs, while, EW40 was 48.86 ± 0.31 and 49.94 ± 0.36 g in Type I and II genetic groups respectively. The fertility based on five consecutive hatches was 86.39 and 86.10%, while, hatchability on TES and FES basis was 76.41 and 88.44% and 76.04 and 88.31% in Type I and II genetic groups respectively. There was wide variation in egg shell color ranging from brown to white with an array of shades which might be due to inheritance of various breeds involved in breeding strategy. Immunocompetence study was carried out using sRBC and PHA – P and the respective values in Type I and II genetic groups were 8.17 ± 0.50 and 7.60 ± 0.48 (in log2 values) and 1.61 ± 0.09 and 1.60 ± 0.09 mm which did not differ from each other. However, within each genetic group, males recorded higher sRBC and PHA – P values than the females. Wide variation was observed with regard to morphological traits Viz., Color of chick, Plumage pattern, Plumage color and Shank color which might be due to involvement of various breeds in breeding strategy. The mortality in Type I and Type II genetic groups was 8.37 and 3.64% during chick phase, 10.80 and 9.59% during grower phase and 9.39 and 6.98% during layer phase and the difference between the genetic groups was significant only during chick phase