EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND AGE AT FIRST LAY OF FAYOUMI AND WHITE LEGHORN F1 CHICKENS AND THEIR RECIPROCAL CROSSBREDS

Abstract:

The study was evaluated comparative growth and age at first lay for Fayoumi and White Leghorn and their F1 crosses from day old to age at first egg. For this, a total of 176 chickens from each genotype as foundation stocks were randomly selected and naturally crossbred to obtain pure Fayoumi, White leghorn and their crosses. A total of 1000 eggs collected and incubated on the 7th day of post oviposition. Among hatched, a total of 150 chicks selected from each genotype for subsequent trial evaluation and brood in deep litter pens and reared on same diet in a completely randomized design. Birds were evaluated for body weight and weight gain, feed intake and FCR, body weight and age at first egg, egg weight, Heterosis, maternal and reciprocal effects. Effects of genotype on performance data were analyzed by SAS and significant difference was made by Duncan multiple range tests. Comparative evaluation made on all parameters were illustrated significant differences (P