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Egg production and certain behavioural characteristics and mortality pattern of indigenous chicken of India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2017

P.G. Kumar
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lakkidi, Pookot, Wayanad 673576, Kerala, India
R.R. Churchil*
Affiliation:
Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu 614625, Tamil Nadu, India
A. Jalaludeen
Affiliation:
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Lakkidi, Pookot, Wayanad 673576, Kerala, India
K. Narayanankutty
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur 680651, Kerala India
P.A. Peethambaran
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur 680651, Kerala India
P.E. Praveena
Affiliation:
Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, India
B. Chacko
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur 680651, Kerala India
B. Ajithbabu
Affiliation:
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur 680651, Kerala India
*
Correspondence to: R.R. Churchil, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu 614625, Tamil Nadu, India. email: [email protected]
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Summary

A survey to document the behaviour characteristics and mortality pattern of indigenous chicken of Kerala and a field egg recording study to record egg production characteristics of these birds were conducted. Flight distance and height was 13.29 and 3.97 m, respectively. The territory radius of cocks was 121.15 m. The chick survivability at 4 weeks of age was 64.98 percent. The day-old and 8th week body weights were 28.83 and 347.24 g, respectively. The 20th and 40th week body weight of males were 1,428.42 and 1,936.67 g and that of females were 1,114.04 and 1,445.63 g, respectively. The mortality up to 72 weeks was 69.38 percent and major cause of mortality during chick, grower and layer stage were mongoose (44.63 percent), wolf (24.29 percent) and diseases (52.18 percent) respectively. The fertility was 71.22 percent and hatchability on total and fertile egg set were 62.26 and 87.42 percent, respectively. There were 2.13 clutches in a laying cycle with inter-clutch intervals of 1.11 days. The average clutch size and number of eggs per cycle were 7.27 and 14.32, respectively. The egg number up to 72 weeks on hen-day and hen-housed basis was 116.81 and 85.84, respectively and the eggs were laid in 7.7 cycles. The age at first egg and average age at sexual maturity were 155 and 199.26 days, respectively. The egg weight at 28, 40 and 72 weeks of age was 37.80, 40.74 and 43.31 g, respectively, and egg mass per bird was 4,659.04 g. The broodiness and incubation pause were 26.03 and 121.75 days, respectively.

Résumé

Une enquête pour connaître les caractéristiques du comportement et le patron de mortalité des poules indigènes du Kerala et une étude sur le terrain pour contrôler la production d’œufs de ces volailles ont été menées. La distance et la hauteur de vol ont été, respectivement, de 13,29 et 3,97 m. Le rayon du territoire des coqs a été de 121,15 m. La survie des poussins à quatre semaines de vie a été de 64,98 pour cent. Le poids corporel a été de 28,83 g à l’éclosion et de 347,24 g à la huitième semaine de vie. Aux vingtième et quarantième semaines, le poids corporel des mâles a été de 1428,42 et 1936,67 g, respectivement, et celui des femelles de 1114,04 et 1445,63 g, respectivement. Jusqu’à la soixante-douzième semaine, la mortalité a été de 69,38 pour cent, la principale cause de mortalité étant la mangouste (44,63 pour cent), le loup (24,29 pour cent) et les maladies (52,18 pour cent) aux stades de poussin, croissance et ponte, respectivement. La fertilité s'est élevée à 71,22 pour cent et le taux d’éclosion a été de 62,26 pour cent sur le nombre total d’œufs et de 87,42 pour cent sur le nombre d’œufs féconds. Il y a eu 2,13 couvées par cycle de ponte avec des intervalles entre couvées de 1,11 jours. En moyenne, la taille des couvées et le nombre d’œufs par cycle ont été de 7,27 et 14,32, respectivement. Jusqu’à la soixante-douzième semaine, le nombre d’œufs a été de 116,81 par jour de poule élevée et de 85,84 par poule logée, les œufs ayant été pondus en 7,7 cycles. L’âge au premier œuf et l’âge moyen à la maturité sexuelle ont été de 155 et 199,26 jours, respectivement. Le poids de l’œuf aux semaines 28, 40 et 72 d’âge a été de 37,80, 40,74 et 43,31 g, respectivement, et la masse d’œuf par poule s'est élevée à 4659,04 g. Le comportement de couvaison et la pause pour l'incubation ont duré 26,03 et 121,75 jours, respectivement.

Resumen

Se llevaron a cabo una encuesta para conocer las características del comportamiento y el patrón de mortalidad de las gallinas autóctonas de Kerala y un estudio de campo para determinar la producción de huevos de estas aves. La distancia y la altura de vuelo fueron, respectivamente, de 13,29 y 3,97 m. El radio del territorio de los gallos fue de 121,15 m. La supervivencia de los pollitos a las cuatro semanas de edad fue de 64,98 por ciento. El peso corporal fue de 28,83 g el primer día de vida y de 347,24 g en la octava semana de vida. En la vigésima y cuadragésima semana, el peso corporal de los machos fue de 1428,42 g y de 1936,67 g, respectivamente, y el de las hembras de 1114,04 g y 1445,63 g, respectivamente. Hasta la semana 72, la mortalidad fue de 69,38 por ciento, siendo la principal causa de muerte durante las fases de pollito, crecimiento y puesta la mangosta (44,63 por ciento), el lobo (24,29 por ciento) y las enfermedades (52,18 por ciento), respectivamente. La fertilidad ascendió a 71,22 por ciento y la incubabilidad sobre el número total de huevos y sobre el número de huevos fértiles fue de 62,26 por ciento y de 87,42 por ciento, respectivamente. Se dieron 2,13 nidadas por ciclo de puesta con intervalos entre nidadas de 1,11 días. De media, el tamaño de las nidadas y el número de huevos por ciclo ascendieron a 7,27 y 14,32, respectivamente. Hasta la semana 72, el número de huevos fue de 116,81 por gallina-día y de 85,84 por gallina alojada, habiendo sido los huevos puestos en 7,7 ciclos. La edad al primer huevo y la edad media a la madurez sexual fueron de 155 y 199,26 días, respectivamente. El peso del huevo a las 28, 40 y 72 semanas de edad fue de 37,80, 40,74 y 43,31 g, respectivamente, siendo además la masa de huevo por ave de 4659,04 g. La cloquera y la pausa para la incubación duraron 26,03 y 121,75 días, respectivamente.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2016 

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