Growth Performance of F۱ and F۲ Crosses of Horro, Potchefstroom Koekoek and Bovan Brown Chicken Breeds under Intensive Management System

This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance between F۱ and F۲ generations of Horro, Potchefstroom Koekoek and Bovan Brown crosses under intensive management at Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), Southwest Ethiopia. Totally ۴۵۰ F۱ chicks were produced by crossing Horro with Potchefstroom Koekoek (HPK), Horro with Bovan Brown (HB) and Bovan Brown with Potchefstroom Koekoek (BPK) and ۱۵۰ from each genotype. When F۱ generation was matured and started laying eggs, fertile eggs were collected from them and again a total ۴۵۰ F۲ chicks (۱۵۰ from each genotype) were produced. Both generations were managed on phase basis and each genotype group was randomly assigned to three replications. Data were recorded on phase basis for both generations. Dressing percentages of cockerels were taken at ۱۶ week age for both generations. Data collected was analyzed using SAS ۹.۳ and SPSS. As indicated current investigation, mean day-old chick body weight of F۱ was significantly heavier in all genotype than F۲. In contrast to brooding phase, only one genotype (HPK cockerels) showed significant difference (p<۰.۰۵) that F۱ (۱۹۶۹.۳۳g) being heavier than F۲ (۱۸۱۸.۹۵g) during growing phase. Similarly, in this phase the average body weight of pullets showed significance (p<۰.۰۵) for one genotype (HB) only that was F۱ (۱۲۶۲.۰۰g) being heavier than F۲ (۱۲۰۴.۱۱g). Reverse to the first two phases, the average mature body weight of F۲ was significantly heavier (p<۰.۰۵) than F۱ generation for both sexes during layer. The average mature body weight of BPKF۱ cocks attained ۲۹۶۷g was heavier than obtained ۲۵۲۰g for BPKF۲ cocks. The average mature body weight of BPKF۱ and HPKF۱ hens (۱۹۶۲.۲g and ۲۰۷۵.۶g) were heavier than the average mature body weight of BPKF۲ and HPKF۲ hens (۱۷۲۳g and ۱۹۱۵.۴۴g), respectively. The result of body weight gain between F۱ and F۲ indicated no significant difference (P>۰.۰۵). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed significant difference (p<۰.۰۵) during grower phase for pullets that HB genotype F۲ being better than F۱. Live body weight and dressing percentage of cockerels showed no significance (p>۰.۰۵) between generations. Mortality rate during all phases for both F۱ and F۲ was low and significantly different between generations except BPK had no mortality during growing phase for both generations. From present results, it was seen that crosses of these breeds up to F۲ generations showed good growth performance at on-station management. Therefore, it is important to produce crosses of these chicken breeds up to F۲ generation and recommended also to produce F۳ to investigate again with F۱ and F۲ generations.This study was conducted to evaluate growth performance between F۱ and F۲ generations of Horro, Potchefstroom Koekoek and Bovan Brown crosses under intensive management at Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (JUCAVM), Southwest Ethiopia. Totally ۴۵۰ F۱ chicks were produced by crossing Horro with Potchefstroom Koekoek (HPK), Horro with Bovan Brown (HB) and Bovan Brown with Potchefstroom Koekoek (BPK) and ۱۵۰ from each genotype. When F۱ generation was matured and started laying eggs, fertile eggs were collected from them and again a total ۴۵۰ F۲ chicks (۱۵۰ from each genotype) were produced. Both generations were managed on phase basis and each genotype group was randomly assigned to three replications. Data were recorded on phase basis for both generations. Dressing percentages of cockerels were taken at ۱۶ week age for both generations. Data collected was analyzed using SAS ۹.۳ and SPSS. As indicated current investigation, mean day-old chick body weight of F۱ was significantly heavier in all genotype than F۲. In contrast to brooding phase, only one genotype (HPK cockerels) showed significant difference (p<۰.۰۵) that F۱ (۱۹۶۹.۳۳g) being heavier than F۲ (۱۸۱۸.۹۵g) during growing phase. Similarly, in this phase the average body weight of pullets showed significance (p<۰.۰۵) for one genotype (HB) only that was F۱ (۱۲۶۲.۰۰g) being heavier than F۲ (۱۲۰۴.۱۱g). Reverse to the first two phases, the average mature body weight of F۲ was significantly heavier (p<۰.۰۵) than F۱ generation for both sexes during layer. The average mature body weight of BPKF۱ cocks attained ۲۹۶۷g was heavier than obtained ۲۵۲۰g for BPKF۲ cocks. The average mature body weight of BPKF۱ and HPKF۱ hens (۱۹۶۲.۲g and ۲۰۷۵.۶g) were heavier than the average mature body weight of BPKF۲ and HPKF۲ hens (۱۷۲۳g and ۱۹۱۵.۴۴g), respectively. The result of body weight gain between F۱ and F۲ indicated no significant difference (P>۰.۰۵). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed significant difference (p<۰.۰۵) during grower phase for pullets that HB genotype F۲ being better than F۱. Live body weight and dressing percentage of cockerels showed no significance (p>۰.۰۵) between generations. Mortality rate during all phases for both F۱ and F۲ was low and significantly different between generations except BPK had no mortality during growing phase for both generations. From present results, it was seen that crosses of these breeds up to F۲ generations showed good growth performance at on-station management. Therefore, it is important to produce crosses of these chicken breeds up to F۲ generation and recommended also to produce F۳ to investigate again with F۱ and F۲ generations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bovan Brown ، Horro ، Potchefstroom Koekoek ، Crosses ، growth performance