Effect of crossbreeding between two developed local strains of chicken on laying performance
Abstract: A crossbreeding experiment was carried out between Golden Montazah (GM) and Matrouh (Mt) chickens. A total of 40 sires and 320 dams from the two strains (20 sires and 160 dams from each strain) were used to produce four genetic groups (two purebreds, GM X GM and Mt X Mt and two crossbreds Mt X GM and GM X Mt). At 18 weeks of age 120 hens were taken (30 females from each genotype) to estimate age and body weight at sexual maturity, egg weight, egg number, and egg mass during the first 90 day of laying. Likewise, egg shell quality measurement (shape index, shell weight, shell percentage, shell thickness and shell strength) have been also determined for all genetic groups.
The main results obtained can be summarizes as follows:
- The crossbred hens had a heavier body weight than those of purebreds hens measured at sexual maturity, but there was no significant difference among all genetic groups. Moreover, the Mt X GM cross hens reached sexual maturity earlier than those of the others, while Matrouh strain reached sexual maturity later than the other groups. Generally using GM strain as a maternal line could be more useful than as a paternal line in crosses for age at sexual maturity. Also using GM strain as a maternal line could be more useful than as a paternal line in crosses for age at sexual maturity.
- Mt hens had a heaviest egg weight but this trend did not exist for both egg number and egg mass when compared with other groups, also GM hens had a highest values for egg number and egg mass, the crossbreds were intermediate for such traits.
- Concerning shell weight, the GM purebred had a slightly higher figure followed by the crossbreds. While the difference between the purebreds and the crossbreds for shell thickenss trait was not significant.
- With respect to breeding strength, the Mt purebred was higher than GM one. The two reossbreds were intermediate for such trait.
Keywords: laying hens, crossing, local strains.
Publication year 2003
Pages 409-419
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
External authors (outside ARC)
    معتز محمد فتحى جامعة عين شمس
    محمد فكرى عامر جامعة عين شمس
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Chickens. Crossbreeding. Layer chickens. Performance testing.
Proposed Agrovoc local strains;
Publication Type Journal
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