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Natural molting in Fayoumi fowl 2- A comparative study of two lines of Fayoumi females feathering and its relationship with egg production traits
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Abstract: One hundred and two, one-day-old female Fayoumi chicks, hatched late April (out of season), were used in this experiment. They represented two lines (41 PP chicks from a line selected for high egg production and 61 GG chicks from a line selected for high body weight at 8 wks of age).
Results obtained indicated that, PP line was superior than GG line in: number of tail feather at ten-days of age (T10); early age at sexual maturity(SM); lighter body weight at sexual maturity (MBW); less number of days to produce the first ten eggs (DP10); higher intensity of production(I %); egg production until 60, 90 and 365 days (P60, P90 and P365). While the GG line females were superior than the PP line females in: body weight at four weeks (BW4); body weight at eight weeks (BW8); persistency (PERS) however these differences were not significant. The GG line females were lower layer mortality than the PP line females.
The differences between these two Fayoumi lines were examined . Average number, of primary and secondary feathers at hatch were 7.1 and 1.5 feathers in the PP and 7.1 and 1.4 feathers in the GG line. Number of tail feather at ten-days of age (T10) were 11.2 and 9.3 feathers in the PP and GG lines, respectively.
There were significant positive correlations between secondary feathers score at hatch (SEC0) and: P90; between DP10 and: SM and MBW; between number of primary feathers at hatch (PR0) and: number of primary feathers at eight weeks (PR8); and between COV8 and: T10, BW4 and number of secondary feathers at eight weeks (SEC8) and BW8.
Significant negative correlations between DP10 and: P60, P90 and P365, PERS, and I %; between SM and: P90, P365, I % and BW4; between PR8 and: BW8 and BW4; between MEW and: both BW4 and BW8; between MBW and: P60, P90, P365 and I %; between SEC0 and: PERS; and between PR8 and: BW4 and BW8.
The PP line was early in molting than the GG line. The Pubic Bones Spread (PBS) of the PP line females were larger than the GG line females at 12, 14, 15 and 18 months of age. The Pubic Bones Condition (PBC) of the PP line females had better score (thin and flexible) than the GG line females (thick and hard) from 14 until 18 months of age . However, the GG line females had larger comb area (CA) and darker red comb color (CC) than the PP line females. The GG females had more rounded abdomen (AB) than the PP females. The Capacity (CAP) of the GG line females were better from 12 to 18 months of age than the PP line females. The maximum CAP was obtained at 12 and 13 months and the minimum at 15 month of age. Significant differences were obtained between the PP and the GG in their egg production from May to July ( 12 -14 months).
This work was done to help the small and medium egg producers to improve their egg production, from Fayoumi chickens, without going into prolonged breeding programs.
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| Publication year |
2007
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| Pages |
1131-1149
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| Availability location |
معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
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| Availability number |
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| Organization Name |
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| City |
الاسكندرية
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| serial title |
Egyptian Poultry Science
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| ISSN |
1110-5623
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| Author(s) from ARC |
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| Agris Categories |
Animal physiology - Reproduction
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AGROVOC
TERMS |
Body weight.
Chickens.
Egg production.
Feathers.
Females.
Moulting.
Sexual maturity.
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| Proposed Agrovoc |
feathering;
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| Publication Type |
Journal
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