MVSc

An experiment was carried out at the Kerala Agricultural University
Poultry Farm, Mannuthy in order to evaluate the production performance of New
Hampshire and Naked Neck hens in cages.
Sixty (60) pullets each of New Hampshire (NH) and Naked neck (NN) at
the age of 18 weeks were housed at random in identical cages in four replicates
each at the rate of 15 birds per replicate and three birds per cage. Layer mash with
BIS specifications was fed ad libitum throughout the experimental period.
Standard routine management practices were followed in the study. The
production performance in cages for five periods of 28-days each were recorded
during January to June 1999. The objective of the study was to evaluate and
compare the production performance of New Hampshire and Naked Neck hens
from 20 to 40 weeks of age in cages.
Body weight at 20 and 40 weeks of age in New Hampshire and Naked
Neck were recorded individually and the respective mean values were found to be
1675.10 g and 1682.30 g at 20 weeks and 2635.45 g and 2703.65 gat 40 weeks of
age. The average age at first egg was 164.50 days in New Hampshire and 164.71
days in Naked Neck hens. The mean ages at 10 and 50 per cent production were
168. 15 and 175.5 days in New Hampshire and 170.35 and 176.55 days in Naked
Neck respectively.

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The mean egg production recorded was 4.15 with 59.28 per cent in New
t: )
Hampshire and 4.51 eggs with 64.42 per cent in Naked Neck on hen housed basis
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and on hen-day basis 4.16 eggs with 59.42 per cent in New Hampshire and 4.52
eggs with 64.57 per cent in Naked Neck. The highest production was obtained at
31 weeks of age in New Hampshire and Naked Neck birds on hen-housed and
hen-day basis. The mean daily feed consumption worked out was 123.06 gin NH
and 123.46 g in NN. Feed conversion ratio on the basis of dozen eggs for New
Hampshire was 2.60 and it was 2.45 in Naked Neck hens. Egg weight at last three
days in each period was individually recorded and the overall mean egg weight for
21 to 40 weeks of age was 50.44 g in New Hampshire and 53.36 g in Naked Neck.
The overall mean egg mass per day was 1.60 kg in NH and 1.84 kg in NN. The
mean percentages of shell, albumen and ,yolk were 10.17, 58.59 and 31.24 in
New Hampshire and 9.41, 57.65 and 32.94 in Naked Neck eggs respectively. The
mean shell thickness was 0.44 mm in NH and 0.48 mm in NN eggs. The mean
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indices of shape, albumen and yolk were i.34, 0.09 and 0.36 in New Hampshire
and 1.32,0.07 and 034 in Naked Neck. The mean yolk cholesterol was 14.54 mg
per g of yolk in New Hampshire and 14.46 mg per g of yolk in Naked Neck eggs.
The mean Haugh Unit Score was 87.16 in 'New Hampshire and 80.58 in Naked
Neck hens. The livability per cent from 21 to 40 weeks of age was 91.66 in
New Hampshire and 93.33 per cent in Naked Neck.
The feed cost per egg was 226 paise in New Hampshire and 212 paise in
Naked Neck hens.

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Based on the above findings, it is evident that the overall egg weight, egg
mass and shell thickness were significantly higher (P<0.05) in Naked Neck birds.
The overall mean albumen index and yolk index were significantly higher
(P<0.05) in New Hampshire birds. The differences in body weight at 20 and 40
weeks, age at sexual maturity, overall HlR'-J, HDN and its percentages, overall
feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, per cent shell, per cent albumen and per
cent yolk., shape index, yolk. cholesterol and Haugh Unit Score were non-
significant between New Hampshire and Naked Neck. Therefore it was concluded
that Naked Neck birds have an edge over new Hampshire birds in egg production,
egg weight, egg mass and shell thickness. However, New Hampshire birds had
better albumen and yolk percentage. New Hampshire and Naked Neck were
similar in characters of body weight, age at sexual maturity, egg production, feed
consumption, feed conversion ratio, per cent shell, per cent albumen, per cent
yolk, yolk. cholesterol and Haugh Unit Score, when reared in cages.
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