Hassan,, A. (2002). LAYING PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE FOR INSHAS AS A NEW LOCAL STRAIN OF CHICKENS IN EGYPT.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 27(10), 6645-6654. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2002.256759
A. H. A. Hassan,. "LAYING PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE FOR INSHAS AS A NEW LOCAL STRAIN OF CHICKENS IN EGYPT.". Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 27, 10, 2002, 6645-6654. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2002.256759
Hassan,, A. (2002). 'LAYING PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE FOR INSHAS AS A NEW LOCAL STRAIN OF CHICKENS IN EGYPT.', Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 27(10), pp. 6645-6654. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2002.256759
Hassan,, A. LAYING PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE FOR INSHAS AS A NEW LOCAL STRAIN OF CHICKENS IN EGYPT.. Journal of Animal and Poultry Production, 2002; 27(10): 6645-6654. doi: 10.21608/jappmu.2002.256759
LAYING PERFORMANCE AS AFFECTED BY SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE FOR INSHAS AS A NEW LOCAL STRAIN OF CHICKENS IN EGYPT.
Animal Production Research Instit., Agric. Res. Cent., Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of some body measurements at 6 weeks of age on productive performance. A number of112 pullets of Inshas strain were individually weighed with measuring shank, thigh and keel lengths at 6 weeks of age. Data on shank, thigh and keel lengths were classified into three groups: short, medium and long lengths. At 20 weeks of age pullets were transferred to individual layer cages until 40 weeks of age. At 36 weeks of age one egg was broken from each hen to determine egg quality traits.
The pullets of short thighs recorded (P< O. 05) earlier sexual maturity, while medium thighs recorded (P < 0.05) heavier body weight at sexual maturity than those of other lengths. Pullets of short shanks produced (P < 0.05) more eggs, higher egg mass and rate of laying than those of other lengths. However medium keel length pullets produced (P < O. 05) more eggs, higher egg mass and rate of laying than the other two groups. Shank length was negatively (P < 0.05) correlated with each of egg number, egg mass and rate of laying, while thigh length was positively (P < 0.01) correlated with age at sexual maturity. Long shank pullets produced (P < 0.05) eggs of higher values of Haugh unit than those of other shank lengths, while short thighs pullets produced (P< 0.05) eggs higher in values of yolk percentage than the other two groups. It could be stated that it is possible to predict the productive performance by using shank length at 6-weeks of age for Inshas strain.
Conclusively, it could be concluded that short shank length may be a good indicator of high egg production traits of Inshas as a new local strain of chickens.