Authors : Nasir Rajput , Muhammad Ismail Rind and Rahmatullah Rind
Abstract: Group size in poultry breeding flock as well as female and male ratio greatly contributes to their production, in this concern from an Egyptian Fayoumi laying flock in 27th week of age,36 layers were weighed (1.60 kg/layer), randomly grouped in A (11), B (12) and C (13) and allocated breeding cock of same age and flock. Layers kept at Poultry Experiment Station, Tandojam, on flour system, each group provided one laying nest, 16 hr florescent light and 2 sq.ft space per layer were provided. Birds fed 100 g/layer/day and water was provided 24 h. Eggs were collected at 10, 14 and 18 h daily, soundness was checked and stored in dark room. 50 candled and fit eggs randomly selected and settled into hatchery for incubation. Candling was practiced on 3rd and 14th day and turning was practiced daily. Hatched chicks of each group were collected, weighed and brooded over two weeks. Layers average feed intake (682, 686 and 685 g/b/w) and egg weight (40.36, 40.45 and 40.54 g/egg) were almost increased followed by significant increase in egg production (5.03,5.19 and 5.21 egg/b/week) with the increase in breeding layer group size for a cock in A,B and groups, respectively. Average fertility and hatchability rates of Fayoumi layer were high for middle (B) than small (A) and large (C) flock size groups during first, second and third hatch of eggs. However, both fertility and hatchability rates were in increasing trend with the progress of age and eggs hatched but hatchability rate was slightly reduced during last hatch and small group reached to its peak of hatching. Overall results of Fayoumi layers kept in middle flock size eggs fertility and hatchability rates were at peak for medium (B) than small (A) and large (C) groups but, chicks from large group to become heavier (29.90) than medium (29.80) and small (29.34) g/b, respectively.
Nasir Rajput , Muhammad Ismail Rind and Rahmatullah Rind , 2005. Effect of Flock Size on Fayoumi Layer Production . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4: 842-844.