Increase in egg production, egg quality and immunity of local chicken resulted by cross-breeding

Abstract

Abstract A series of study aimed to improve egg production, egg quality and immunity resulted by cross-breeding with Arab chickens and laying chickens has been observed on 400 chickens of 5-month old of hens was used and treatment was divided into 2 groups: medium and heavy type hens. Randomized Block Design was used and hens were fed on a laying diet contained 18% of crude protein content and 2900 kcal/kg of metabolism energy. Parameters observed were the number of daily eggs (hen/day), clutch, egg weight, egg shape, shell thickness, Haugh unit (HU) and the total percentage of egg production during one production cycle. Immunity was observed by thymus size and time of thymus regression. The results showed that daily and total egg production, clutch spacing, egg weight, egg shape, hemp thickness, Haugh unit (HU) of egg in both heavy and medium type were significantly higher than pure local chicken. However, all the parameters of egg production and egg quality on the type of weight were significantly higher than the light type. In terms of immunity, time of thymus regression on crossbreed hen type occurred at 14-16 weeks of age. It concluded that crossbreeding between local chicken increased egg production and egg quality on derivatives of local chicken. It was also informed that the immunity of derivatives of local chicken resulted by crossbreeding against endemic diseases was better than that of in natural breed chicken.