Production performance of two-way and three-way crosses in white Leghorns

Abstract

The analysis of the performance record of the Two-way and Three-way strain crosses maintained at the Central Poultry Breeding Farm, Hessarghatta, Banglore is reported in this thesis. The strain cross combination studied were MT, TM, MV, VM, VNT, VTM, TMV, and TVM. In order to evaluate the comparative efficiency of these two strain cross procedures egg production, egg weight, body weight, food efficiency and livability were used as the parameters. Both the two-way and three-way crosses were comparable in respect of egg production, egg weight, body weight and livability. Two-way crosses showed superior performance in respect of feed efficiency. Among the two-way crosses MT and TM showed better performance over there in respect of most of the economic traits. In the light of the above findings, it was concluded that two-way cross be preferred to three-way cross for exploiting heterosis. In view of the superior performance of MT and TM it was further concluded that the strains M and T can be used for evolving two-way crosses. The need for further refinement of these two pure strains with greater emphasis on egg weight is suggested.