First Week Body Weight Influenced Growth Performance and Morphometric Traits in Commercial White Leghorn Layers
First Week Body Weight Influenced Growth Performance and Morphometric Traits in Commercial White Leghorn Layers
First Week Body Weight Influenced Growth Performance and Morphometric Traits in Commercial White Leghorn Layers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Department of Poultry Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan
*Correspondence: shamoilraj@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of first week body weight on growth performance and morphometric traits
in white Leghorn layers. A total of 160, one week old, commercial chicks (LSL-lite) were equally divided into four body
weight groups, comprising of 4 replicates of each group having 10 birds/replicate according to Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD). Experimental treatments consisted of four body weight categories i.e. jumbo (J), heavy (H),
medium (M), low (L) with body weight >75 grams, 70-74 grams, 65-69 grams and <65 grams respectively. The data were
analysed using one-way ANOVA technique and means were compared through Duncan’s Multiple Range (DMR) test.
Statistical analysis revealed significant (P≤0.05) variations in body weight (g) of LSL layers in initial period of rearing. But
at later stages, differences in body weight were negligible (P>0.05). Feed intake (g), body weight gain (g) and mortality%
were also not influenced by first week body weight categories. Significantly (P≤0.05) higher body length, breast width,
shank length and wing span were observed in Jumbo weight category birds. In conclusion, first week body weight of more
than 75 grams could be an incentive for morphometric traits without any detrimental termination of growth phase of white
Leghorn commercial layer.
Keywords: Leghorn Layer, Body Weight Category, Growth Performance, Morphometric Traits
How to Cite: Tariq S, Hussain J, Usman M, Mahmud A, Husnain F, Ghayas A, Rasul M. 2018. First Week Body Weight Influenced Growth Performance
and Morphometric Traits in Commercial White Leghorn Layers. International Journal of Applied Biology and Forensics 2: 213-219
Table 2: Effect of Initial Chick (1 week) Weight on Growth Performance (1-20 Weeks) of LSL-Lite Layers
First Week Body Final Body Weight (20 Feed Intake Liveability
Body Weight st th
Weight Week) (1 to 20 week) (1st 20 weeks)
Category
--------------------------(g)------------------------- --( % )--
Jumbo (> 75g ) 76.91±0.56a 1134.50±21.76 6789.70±20.91 99.89±0.07
Heavy (70-74 g) 71.93±0.43b 1075.00±26.73 6815.60±28.28 99.94±0.06
Medium (65-69 g) 66.72±0.55c 1113.50±24.43 6816.70±29.44 99.94±0.06
Low ( < 65 g) 57.40±0.33 d 1110.50±18.26 6816.90±21.60 99.94±0.06
* 1200
50 **
Body weight (g)
1000
40
800 *
30 *
*
600 *
20
* **
400 *
10 *
*
200 **
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
0
Week 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Week
Jumbo Heavy Medium Low Jumbo Heavy Medium Low
Figure 1: Effect of initial chick weight on Average Daily feed Figure 2: Effect of initial chick weight on weekly body weight of
intake of LSL lite layer LSL lite layer
*Significant difference (P≤0.05) *Significant difference (P≤0.05
100 6 * ****
* **
90 *
5.5 *
80 * *
5 *
70
*
* **
60 4.5
* *
50
4
40
3.5
30
3
20
10 2.5
0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
Week
week
Jumbo Heavy Medium Low
Jumbo Heavy Medium Low
60
* 9.5 *
*** * **** * **
55
****
* *** 8.5
50 *** *
*
Body Length (cm)
7.5
45
*
*
Shank length (cm)
6.5
40
**
35 * 5.5
*
30 * 4.5
* *
25
* 3.5 *
20
2.5
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29
15
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 Week
width in egg type chickens (Adeleke et al. 2004; Kolawole Duncan DB. 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests.
and Salako 2010; Olawumi 2014). Similar findings were Biometrics. 11: 1-42.
also reported by Remignon et al. (1995) in both egg type Ezzeldin ZA, Hanafi MS, Khal MM, Sabra ZA. 1994.
and meat type birds. In the current study, H birds showed Phenotypic correlations between body weight and
the significantly (P≤0.05) large while J birds showed the body measurements of chicken. Anim. Breed. Abs
smaller shank length at early growing period. However, 62: 475.
this parameter was found significantly (P≤0.05) higher in Farooq M, Mian MA, Durrani FR, Syed M. 2002. Feed
J and lower in M category at early laying period. Shank consumption and efficiency of feed utilization by
length and BW relationship might become imbalance due egg type layers for egg production. Lives. Rese.
to environmental temperature, excess abdominal fat in Rur. Develop 14.
heavy birds and compensatory growth in underweight Farooq M, Shakir MK, Mian MA, Mussawar S, Durrani SR,
pullets (Salahi et al. 2014). Similarly, Olawumi SO, (2014) Cheema A. 2004. Status of backyard chicken
reported that strain difference like Isa Brown and reared by women in Chitral, Pakistan. Pak. Vet. J
Dominant Black birds also have positive correlation BW 24: 82-86.
and shank length. Body weight significantly (P≤0.05) Harms RH, Costa PT, Miles RD. 1982. Daily feed intake
affect the wing span at early growing period. During this and performance of laying hens grouped
trial, wing span was found significantly (P≤0.05) higher in according to their body weight. Poult. Sci: 1021–
J and lower in M weight birds. Higher wing span of J 1024.
weight bird was might be due to strong association Harms RH, Olivero V, Russell GB. 2000. A comparison of
between body weight and wing span (Kaye et al. performance and energy intake of commercial
2016).Similarly, the association of body weight with wing layers based on body weight or egg weight. J. Appl.
span was found positive in quail (Kaye et al. 2016). In Poult. Rese 9: 179-184.
simple words, morphometric traits have positive Kaye J, Akpa GM, Adeyinka IA, Nwagu BI. 2016.
correlation with the body weight. Estimates of genetic parameters for body weight
and some economic important traits in Japanese
Conclusions quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Res. J. Agri 3:
1-14.
From the above discussion we conclude that
Kolawole A, Salako AE .2010. Phenotypic
chick weight more than 75 g is ideal at the end of 1st week
Characterization of the cane rat (Thryonomys.
in layers because they have positive influence on growth
swinderianus). Proc. 35th conf. Nig Soc Animal
during early period and morphometric parameters
Prod. Uni. Ibadan. Nigeria : 92-94.
throughout experimental period.
Lacin EA, Yildiz N, Esenbuga, Macit M. 2008. Effect of
differences in the initial body weight of groups on
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