Comparison of Hen Performance and Mortality of Commercial Layer Flocks by Strain and Cage Type

Authors : Sema Kaba, Zehra Bozkurt

Pages : 530-540

Doi:10.30607/kvj.1354918

View : 70 | Download : 53

Publication Date : 2023-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The study aimed to compare the effects of strain and cage type on egg production, mortality and the rates of dirty eggs and broken eggs in commercial flocks of laying hens. The study was conducted on four commercial flocks of layers in medium-sized poultry farms in the city of Afyonkarahisar. Two white (Hy-Line and Super Nick) and two brown (Nick Brown) layer flocks were housed in conventional cages and enrichable cages. The laying flocks were visited weekly, and the egg production and the number of dead birds, dirty eggs, and broken eggs were collected on a daily basis from flock records between 19 and 56 weeks of age. Both strain and cage type had a significant effect on hen-day and hen-housed egg production. The brown strains (2.74%) and hens housed in conventional cages (2.61%) had higher mean egg production. The effect of strain on weekly mortality became insignificant after 32 weeks of age, while the highest mortality rates were observed in the enrichable cages. The weekly rates of dirty eggs and broken eggs showed significant differences between the groups of strains and cage type. The effects of strain x cage type interactions on egg production and on the rates of dirty eggs and broken eggs were found to be significant. White and brown laying hens in conventional cages had higher egg production than the hens kept in enrichable cages. In conclusion, brown strains had higher egg production than white strains and enrichable cages had lower egg production and higher mortality, as well as dirty and broken eggs.
Keywords : Genotip, Kafes tipi, Kirli ve kırık yumurta, Ölüm oranı, Yumurta verimi