COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRODUCTION POTENTIAL AND EGG CHARACTERISTICS OF LYALLPUR SILVER BLACK, FAYOUMI AND RHODE ISLAND RED BREEDS OF POULTRY

Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad; ¹Department of Poultry Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract   

    A comparison of production potential and egg characteristics of birds of Lyallpur Silver Black (LSB). Fayoumi (FAY) and Rhode Island Red (RIR) breeds was conducted. Ninety nine birds, 33 from each breed (30 females and 3 males), were used as experimental birds. The birds of each breed were divided into three experimental units (10 females + 1 male), making a total of nine units from the breeds under study (3 units/breed). All the experimental birds were placed on a layer ration. Observations on egg production, feed consumption, egg weight and egg quality characteristics viz. shell thickness, shell weight, breaking strength, albumen diameter, albumen weight and yolk weight were recorded. The data thus collected were utilized for the calculation of FCR, Haugh unit and yolk index values. Maximum egg production and egg weight were noted in the RIR birds. RIR birds also used their feed more efficiently, both on per dozen eggs and per Kg egg mass produced basis, than other breeds. Feed consumption was higher in Fayoumis than other breeds. Maximum breaking strength, shell weight, shell thickness and yolk index were observed in LSB birds. Haugh unit values were non-significantly different amongst all the breeds. Based upon these results, it may be concluded that the RIR birds exhibited better production potential, whereas LSB birds produced eggs with better egg quality characteristics than other breeds.

Key words: Feed consumption, egg production, FCR, egg characteristics, poultry breeds.