GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF SOME PRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN CHICKENS

Abstract

The recent experiment has been carried out at the Poultry research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt, during the period from 2019 to 2022 for two generations to investigate some egg production traits genetically and study the possibility of genetic improvement of these traits in Norfa chickens. Data on 855 Norfa hens were collected individually and utilized in current study during the whole experimental period. Base population was divided randomly into two groups named after selected and control lines according to genetic treatments. Hens artificially inseminated with sexual ratio 1 male : 3 females. At the time of hatch, all chicks were wing banded and pedigreed. All chicks fed a starter diet containing 18.05% crude protein till 8th week of age then fed a growing diet containing 14.01% crude protein from 9 till 16 weeks of age, thereafter, pullets were fed a layer ration at production period containing 17.46% crude protein. At 16th week of age females moved to laying house and kept individually in cages. A "step down-step up" lighting program was used during brooding, rearing and production periods. Data computerized and selection applied by selection index method helping appropriate statistical and genetic analysis software programs. Results summarized as follow: