Aim:
An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of egg weight
on hatchability, embryonic deaths and hatchling weight of three
rural breeds (Fayoumi, Desi and crossbred (Rhode Island Red
X Fayoumi) chickens.
Materials and Methods: Three different egg weight groups
classified into small: (<41g), medium (41-45g) and large (> 45g)
were used in the experiment. A complete randomized design was used
for the experiment. Simultaneously quadratic type equation was
used to determine the egg weight for optimum hatchability and
hatchling weight.
Results:
Percentage hatchability of medium-sized eggs was higher (P < 0.05)
than those in large sized eggs. Similarly, large–sized eggs had
higher (P < 0.05) percentage hatchability than small sized eggs in
all breeds. Hatchability percentage changed by ratio 0.4077 with
one unit change in mean egg weight of Fayoumi. The hatchability
changed by ratio 0.5488 with one unit change in egg weight of
Desi. The hatchability changed by ratio 0.3767 with one unit
change in egg weight of crossbred chickens. Mean hatchling weight
in Fayoumi eggs changed by ratio of 0.6760; Desi eggs by
ratio of 0.5955 and crossbred chicken eggs by ratio of 1.3613 with
one unit change in mean egg weight. The overall mean hatchling
weight as percentage of mean egg weight in case of Fayoumi was
67.10, in Desi 62.42 and 68.36 in case of cross birds.
There was no evidence that hatchabilitypercentage increased with
increase in egg weight in all the three strains of birds.
Small-sized eggs had higher (P<0.05) embryonic deaths than those
of medium and large-sized eggs in three breeds. Hatchling weight
from large eggs were (P < 0.05) higher than those of small eggs in
three breeds. Mean hatchling weight of Fayoumi changed by ratio
0.676 with one unit change in mean egg weight. In case of Desi
chickens, mean hatchling weight changed by ratio 0.5955 with
one unit change in egg weight. In case of crossbred chicken, mean
hatchling weight changed by ratio 1.3613 with one unit change in
egg.
Conclusion: This study revealed that medium sized eggs were
more appropriate for better hatchability percentage and lower
embryonic deaths in three rural breeds. However, large sized eggs
were suitable for better hatchling weight.
Keywords: crossbred chicken, Desi, egg weight, Fayoumi,
hatchability, hatchling weight
