Browsing by Author "Leo Joseph"

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Influence of mating ratio on fertility and hatchability in Japanese quails
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2009) Suraj Amrutkar, A; Leo Joseph
An experiment was carried out to study the influence of mating ratio on fertility, hatchability and other productive traits in Japanese quails maintained at University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy. A total of 376 breeder Japanese quails at 6 weeks of age were allotted randomly to four groups with a male female ratio of 1: 3 (T1), 1: 4 (T2), 1: 5 (T3) and 1: 6 (T4) with four replicate each. The number of male and female breeders employed in the treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 24 & 72, 20 & 80, 16 & 80 and 12 & 72, respectively. Standard managemental practices were followed uniformly. Quail breeder ration which contained 22.75 per cent crude protein and 2650 kcal metabolizable energy per kg feed was fed to all mating groups. The T1, T2 and T3 treatment groups were similar but a T4 group differed significantly from the other groups for 6 weeks and 16 weeks body weight. The age at first egg, 10 and 50 per cent production was similar (p < 0.05) in all the treatment groups. The results revealed that mean egg number and mean per cent production did not differ significantly in all the treatment groups. Statistical analysis of the mean data on egg weight revealed no significant difference between treatment means at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. The overall mean fertility in the treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 92.65, 90.45, 91.21 and 90.71 per cent, respectively and statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between treatment groups. The overall mean hatchability on total egg in the treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 86.22, 84.71, 83.86 and 84.78 per cent, respectively and statistical analysis did not reveal any significant difference (p<0.05) between treatment groups. The overall mean hatchability on fertile egg in treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 93.04, 93.62, 91.95 and 93.43 per cent, respectively and the means were statistically similar (P<0.05). The total number of chicks obtained from 9 to 16 weeks of age was similar in all treatment groups. Margin per quail housed in the treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were Rs. 113, 117, 125 and 132, respectively. The T4 treatment group had highest margin than other treatment groups. Cost of production per chick in the treatment groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 were Rs. 2.21, 2.19, 2.10 and 2.04, respectively. The T4 treatment group had lowest cost of production per chick as compared to other treatment groups. The critical evaluation of the result revealed that changing the mating ratio from 1: 3 to 1: 6 did not affect fertility, hatchability and other production traits. Therefore a sex ratio of 1: 6 is recommended in the quail line since it is more economical compared to other sex ratios of 1: 3, 4 & 5.
Influence of pullet body weight on production traits in white leghorns
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Sudheesh Kumar, A S; Leo Joseph
etc. A study was carried out at All India Co-ordinated Research Project on poultry for eggs, Mannuthy, to evaluate the influence of pullet body weight on egg production performance in IWN and IWP strains of White Leghorn. The experimental birds consisted of six body weight classes starting from 1000 g with a class interval of 100 g. Body weight at 20 weeks of age was considered as pullet body weight. The observations recorded were body weight at 20 and 40 weeks of age, age at first egg, hen housed number and per cent, egg weight at 32 and 40 weeks of age, livability and egg quality traits. The mean pullet body weight was 1304.7+4 g in IWN strain and 1335.2+3.5 g in IWP strain. Age at sexual maturity lowered as pullet body weight increased. A higher egg number was observed in heavier body weight classes. The peak production was delayed in lower body weight classes. Though egg weight at 32 weeks of age did not vary significantly among classes, higher egg weight at 40 weeks was recorded in heavier classes. Birds which were heavier at 20 weeks of age were also heavier at 40 weeks of age. But the gain in weight was lesser for higher body weight classes. The classes were similar for livability and egg quality parameters. The results revealed that an optimum pullet body weights an important requirement for IWN and IWP strains. Birds with pullet body weight below 1200 g were poor in most of the production traits in both IWN and IWP strains and therefore may be culled. Optimum managemental conditions may be provided during growing period to enable the pullets to attain good pullet body weight.
Performance of certain purebreds and crossbreds for broiler traits
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1979) Leo Joseph; Ramakrishnan, A
An experiment was conducted to compare Australorps, (ALP), Rhode Island Red (RIR) and White Plymouth Rock (WPR) breeds of chicken and their crosses for broiler production. All the nine possible combinations of these breeds were taken, the genetic groups being three purebred and crossbreds. There were twenty chicks for each group and a total of 180 chicks. They were raised upto twelve weeks of age on deep better identical conditions of management. Body weight was recorded at ten and twelve weeks of age. Feed efficiency and genetic effects – General combining ability, Specific combining ability and Reciprocal effects on body weight-were also calculated at ten weeks of age. Slaughter studies were conducted at ten and twelve weeks of age.
Performance of crossbred colour line and austra-white chicken for layer traits
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Sasikumar, P; Leo Joseph
An experiment was conducted at Kerala Agricultural University Poultry Farm, Mannuthy, to evaluate and compare the production traits of Austra- White and Colourline under farm conditions. One hundred pullets of each crossbred were housed in identical pens (ten birds each) and production performance was evaluated for five periods (each 28 days) from 21 to 40 weeks of age. Standard feeding and managemental practices were followed throughout the study. The Colourline birds were heavier than Austra- White at 20 and 40 weeks of age. The mean body weight for Colourline and Austra-White was 1493.65 ± 14.02 g vs. 1215.60 ± 20.61 g and 1863.15 ± 13.46 vs. 1424.40 ± 28.01 at 20 and 40 weeks of age, respectively. The age at first egg was similar in Austra- White (158.9 ± 2.26 days) and Colourline (158.9 ± 1.96 days). The age at 50 per cent production was 177.7 ± 1.37 days in Austra-White and 175.1 ± 1.28 days in Colourline. The overall mean hen housed number up to 40 weeks of age was 74.31 in Austra- White and 77 .59 in Colourline. The hen day production was 74.88 in Austra-White and 77.71 in Colourline. The overall mean egg weight was 47.12 ± 1.05 gin Austra-White and 44.76 ± 1.29 gin Colourline The mean daily feed consumption from 21 to 40 weeks of age was 104.07 ± 4.16 g in Austra-White and 106.46 ± 4.37 g in Colourline. The feed conversion ~ ratio was 2.07 ± 0.18 (per dozen eggs) in Austra- White and 1.98 ± 0.18 (per dozen eggs) in Colourline, 3.59 ± 0.33 (per kg egg mass) in Austra-White and 3.59 ± 0.35 (per kg egg mass) in Colourline. The shape index was 76.25 ± 0.37 in Austra-White and 77.67 ± 0.33 in Colourline. The albumen index was 0.1080 ± 0.004 in Austra-White and 0.1142 ± 0.002 in Colourline. The yolk index was 0.4257 ± 0.007 in Austra-White and 0.4439 ± 0.007 in Colourline. The shell thickness was 0.3889 ± 0.117 mm in Austra-White and 0.3638 ± 0.006 mm in Colourline. The Haugh Unit score was 88.06 ± 1.39 in Austra- White and 90.52 ± 0.91 in Colourline. Austra- White had uniform plumage pattern with black spots on a dull white background on all parts of the body and ColourIine were multicoloured with various feather patterns. Egg shell was tinted in Austra- White while Colourline eggs were brown. The livability was 97 per cent in Austra- White and 99 per cent in Colourline. The cost of feed consumed per egg was 181 paise in Austra- White and 176 paise in Colourline. The results indicated that the Colourline might be utilised for rearing in backyard.
Performance of crosses of indigenous naked neck with White Leghorn and new Hampshire
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 2000) Jomy John; Leo Joseph
Performance of desi x exotic cross-bred layers
(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science, Mannuthy, 1992) Jayanthy, M V; Leo Joseph
Data were collected on egg production performance of two cross-breds viz. desi X Austra White (DAW) and desi X New Rock (DNR) from 20 to 40 weeks of age. The birds in each cross consisted of naked neck and normal neck varieties. DNR cross birds were significantly heavier at 20 and 40 weeks of age than DAW cross birds. The body weight in Naked neck and normal neck varieties comparable in both crosses. Age at sexual maturity was 184 and 189 days in DNR and DAW crosses respectively. Hen housed and hen day egg numbers were similar in both crosses (37.61 and 47.61 vs 34.40 and 47.81), while the naked neck birds in both crosses showed higher hen housed and hen day egg number between the varieties in DAW cross was significant (53.82 Vs 34.86). The eggs were significantly heavier in DNR cross than in DAW cross (46.74 Vs 44.88) whereas the varieties with in both crosses laid eggs of similar size. The mean daily feed consumption and feed efficiency were also similar in both crosses (106.61 g and 4.09 Vs 104.95 g and 4.93). In DAW cross, the naked neck birds registered a better feed efficiency. While DNR birds were multicolored and laid brown eggs, DAW crosses consisted of only black, grayish white with black patches and grey birds which laid tinted eggs. Broodiness was observed in both the crosses. Egg quality was excellent in both the crosses and varieties with in crosses, at 32 weeks of age. Livability was also similar in both crosses though it was poor. Considering the overall performance, the DNR cross was adjudged as a better cross for the backyard.