MVSc

An experiment was conducted at Kerala Agricultural University
Poultry Farm, Mannuthy in order to evaluate the production performance of
Austra -white and Rhode -white hens on litter floor. The Australorp and Rhode
Island Red formed the male lines and the 'F' strain of White Leghom formed the
female line for the production of A W and RW progenies.
One hundred and twenty (120) pullets each of Austra -white (A W)
and Rhode -white (RW) at the age of 18 weeks were housed in identical pens in
eight replicates each at the rate of 15 birds per replicate at random. Layer mash
with BIS specifications was fed throughout the experimental period. Standard
routine managemental practices were followed in the study. The production
performance on deep litter for six periods of 28 days each were recorded during
the period from December' 97 to June' 98. The objective of the study was to
evaluate and compare the production performance of Austra-white and Rhode -
white hens from 21 to 44 weeks of age under deep litter system of rearing.
Body weight at 20 and 44 weeks of age in Austra-white and Rhode-
white were recorded individually and the respective mean values were found to
be 1181.50 and 1178.75 g at 20 weeks and 1477.45 and 1539.79 g at 44 weeks of
age. The average age at first egg was 161.63 days in Austra-white and 159.75
days in Rhode-white hens. The mean ages at 10 and 50 per cent production
were 166.25 and 179.13 days in Austra-white and 163 and 176.75 days in Rhode-
white respectively. The mean egg production recorded was 82.98 with 49.39 per
cent in Austra-white and 98.80 eggs with 58.81 per cent in Rhode-white on hen-
housed basis and on hen-day basis 85.72 eggs with 51.02 per cent in Austra-white
and 101.21 eggs with 60.24 per cent in Rhode-white. The highest production was



obtained at 32 weeks in Austra-white and 31 weeks of age in Rhode-white birds
on hen-housed and hen-day basis. The mean daily feed consumption was
worked out to 113.22 g in AW and 113.66 gin RW. Feed efficiency on the basis
of dozen eggs for Austra-white was 2.60 and 2.05 in Rhode-white hens. Egg
weight at last three days in each period were individually recorded and the
overall mean egg weight for 21 to 44 weeks of age was 48.02 g in Austra-white
and 46.50 g in Rhode-white. The overall mean egg mass per day was 3.32 kg in
A W and 3.56 kg in RW. The mean percentages of shell, albumen and yolk were
10.86,60.11 and 28.75 in Austra-white and 11.10, 59.39 and 29.47 in Rhode-white
eggs respectively. The mean shell thickness were 0.42 mm in AW and 0.41 mm in
RW eggs. The livability per cent from 21 to 44 weeks of age was 89.17 in Austra-
white and 95.83 per cent in Rhode-white. The feed cost per egg was 15291 paise
in AW and 130.95 paise in RW.
Based on the above findings, it is evident that the
body weight at 44 weeks of age, overall HHN, HDN and its percentages, per cent
livability and per cent yolk in eggs were Significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Rhode -
white birds. Whereas the overall mean egg weight and per cent albumen were
significantly higher in Austra - white eggs. The differences in body weight at 20
weeks, age at sexual maturity, overall feed consumption, per cent shell, shell
thickness and egg mass per day were non- significant between Austra - white
and Rhode - white. Therefore it was concluded that Austra-white birds have an
edge over Rhode-white birds in the overall mean egg weight and per cent
albumen. Rhode-white birds are superior to Austra-White birds in body weight
at 44 weeks, egg production, feed efficiency, livability and per cent yolk in eggs
under deep litter system of rearing. Further studies using A W and RW birds are
warranted under backyard conditions for exploiting the above traits
advantageously.