EVALUATION OF CROSSBREDS OF ASEEL FOR EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS
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Date
2011
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
An experiment was conducted at University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy, to
evaluate and compare the production performance of Aseel × Naked Neck (ANN),
Aseel × New Hampshire (ANH) and Aseel × Rhode Island Red (ARIR)
crossbreds under farm conditions. Forty pullets from each crossbred were housed
in identical pens and production performance was evaluated for five periods (each
28 days) from 21 to 40 weeks of age. Standard feeding and managemental
practices were followed throughout the study.
The mean body weight of ANN, ANH and ARIR were statistically similar
in the three groups at 20 weeks and also at 40 weeks of age. The mean body
weight at 20 weeks of age was 1480.53 g in ANN, 1507.60 g in ANH and 1548.98
g in ARIR. The overall mean body weight at 40 weeks of age was 2322.17 g in
ANN, 2285.27 g in ANH and 2205.43 g in ARIR. The mean age at first egg was
172.2, 178.8 and 165.4 days in ANN, ANH and ARIR, respectively. The mean
age at 50 per cent production in the three groups was statistically similar between
the groups. The overall egg number on hen housed basis was 39.20, 35.55 and
43.50 in ANN, ANH and ARIR, respectively. The overall mean egg weight was
45.14 ± 0.97, 45.91 ± 0.62 and 49.10 ± 1.01 g, respectively, in ANN, ANH and
ARIR. The mean daily feed consumption from 21 to 40 weeks of age was
statistically similar for ANN, ANH and ARIR. The feed conversion ratio per
dozen eggs from 25 to 40 weeks of age was 4.50, 6.39 and 4.29 in ANN, ANH
and ARIR, respectively.
The egg quality traits were satisfactory for all the three crossbred groups.
The mean shape index of eggs at 40 weeks of age in ANN, ANH and ARIR was
75.82, 74.39 and 77.30, respectively, and the values did not differ significantly.
The mean albumen index of eggs at 40 weeks of age was 0.06, 0.08 and 0.09 in
ANN, ANH and ARIR, respectively, and the albumen index in ANN was
significantly lower when compared to the other two experimental groups
(p<0.05). The mean yolk index of eggs at 40 weeks of age in ANN, ANH and
ARIR was 0.38, 0.39 and 0.40, respectively, and the values were similar. The
mean shell thickness of eggs from ANN at 40 weeks of age was 0.25 ± 0.01 mm
which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of eggs from ANH (0.20 ±
0.007 mm) and ARIR birds (0.20 ± 0.007 mm). The mean Haugh unit score of
eggs from ARIR birds (82.18) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of eggs
from ANN and ANH birds (67.78 and 77.22 respectively). The mean value of
yolk cholesterol in ANN, ANH and ARIR was 15.25, 14.84 and19.11 mg per g of
yolk, respectively.
The percent livability in ANN, ANH and ARIR was 100 per cent from 21 to
40 weeks of age. The crossbred progenies of all the three crossbred groups were
multicoloured. The egg shell colour in all the three crossbred groups was brown
or shades of brown.
Considering the production performances in Aseel × Naked Neck, Aseel ×
New Hampshire and Aseel × Rhode Island Red, it was concluded that all the three
crossbred progenies are similar in the traits like body weight, age at sexual
maturity, feed consumption, FCR, egg quality, per cent livability, plumage colour
and egg shell colour. However, ARIR cross has an edge over the other two
groups in overall mean egg weight and egg number.
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