Natural molting in Fayoumi fowl 1- A study of feathering and its relationship to body weight in two lines of Fayoumi fowl
Abstract: Six hundred and thirty two, day-old unsexed, Fayoumi chicks, hatched late April, were used in this experiment; 305 chicks from an egg production line (PP), and 327 chicks from a growth line (GG). The PP line was selected for higher egg number, while the GG line was selected for heavier body weight at 8 weeks of age. The results indicated that feathering of both Fayoumi lines were rapid. The primary feathers of the PP females were faster growing than the GG females, at hatch. the GG males were faster feathering than the PP males at the same age. Females Secondary feathers, for both the PP and GG lines, were longer than that of the males at hatch. The (12) tail feathers, at 10 days of age were higher in the PP males and females than the GG. On the other hand, higher percentage of females, had (12) tail feathers, than males in both lines. The percentage of fully feathered GG line, males and females, were higher than those of the PP line at 8 weeks of age. While higher percentage of both PP and GG females were fully feathered at eight weeks of age (COV8) than the PP and GG males .
Absolute body weight of the GG males and females were heavier than the PP males and females at 4 wk, 8 wk and from (0-8) weeks . Also, relative growth rate of the PP and GG males were faster than the PP and GG females for all the periods
Significant positive phenotypic correlation coefficients between body weight at hatch and each of : number of tail feathers at ten days, body weight at four weeks and body weight at eight weeks; between body weight at four weeks and each of : secondary feathers number at eight weeks, cover feathers index at eight weeks and body weight at eight weeks of age; between body weight at eight weeks and each of : secondary feathers number at eight weeks and cover feathers index at eight weeks of age.
The length of the secondary feathers was negatively related, with the body weight of the PP line at hatch, at four weeks and eight weeks of age. However it was positively related, in the GG line at the same ages.
Publication year 2007
Pages 1113-1129
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الاسكندرية
serial title Egyptian Poultry Science
ISSN 1110-5623
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Nutrition
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Body weight. Chicks. Feathers. Females. Males. Moulting.
Proposed Agrovoc feathering;
Publication Type Journal
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