Search

The effect of sex-linked dwarf gene was investigated through comparison of dwarf hens with their full-sib normal sisters obtained by mating heterozygous males (DW/dw) to normal females (DW/_) from line F (used as maternal form for production of slow-growing colored chickens) with respect to the following traits: body weight, shank and keel length at 40 weeks of age, age of sexual maturity (at 50 % production), egg production, egg weight, feed intake, feed utilization, livability, fertility, hatchability and egg quality characteristics. The results demonstrated that the dw gene caused statistically significant reduction of body weight by 29.15 %, shank length by 20.17 %, keel length by 7 % and egg weight by 5.72 % (p

The new original egg laying lines T, P and N selected at the Institute of Agriculture - Stara Zagora were used. Hybrid Т♂ × Р♀, Р♂ × Т♀ crosses were obtained and used for paternal line. Thereafter, the following breeding schedule of paternal and maternal lines was applied: Group I - (Р♂×Т♀)♂ ×N♀; group ІІ - (Т♂×Р♀)♂ ×N♀; group ІІІ - Т♂×N♀; and group ІV - Р♂×N♀. The production traits of original and hybrid birds were recorded: live weight at the age of 8 and 18 weeks, age of sexual maturity in days, 150 days egg production, average egg weight - at 2-week intervals until end of lay; livability, heterosis effect. The live weights of hybrids at 8 and 18 weeks of age were statistically significantly lower compared to original lines. The values of heterosis for this parameter were negative for all four hybrid combinations. The earliest beginning of egg lay occurred in (T♂×Р♀) ♂ ×N♀ (162.08 days of age) and Р♂×N♀ (163.11 days of age). The relative (%) heterosis for age of sexual maturity of studied hybrid combinations had moderate to low negative values. Average egg weights of hybrids were higher and the values of heterosis - positive for all four groups varying from 0.97% to 1.63%. The average 150 days egg production was lower in purebred lines compared to hybrids. The highest average 150 days egg production was determined in P♂×N♀ hybrids - 142 eggs. The heterosis effect for egg production in hybrids was significant.

Eight hundred one-day-old female chickens from two White Plymouth Rock lines (line L and line K) and their reciprocal crosses obtained from 40 male and 480 females were used to form four genetic groups (LxL, KxK, LxK and KxL). Differences among genotypes, the direct and maternal additive effects, and the heterosis were investigated with regard to the following traits: body weight from 2 to 10 weeks of age and at 18, 26 and 30 weeks of age, age at sexual maturity, egg production per hen-day until 46 weeks of age, average egg weight (between 32 and 46 weeks of age), liveability during the production period, egg fertility, hatchability of set and fertile eggs. The results demonstrated a statistically significant effect of the genotype on body weight during the different age periods (p

Production and slaughter traits of autosexing broiler combination reared either sex separate or mixed were investigated. A total of 180 day-old feather sexed broiler chicks were divided into three groups (n=60)- two sex separate (male and female) and one mixed (1:1), each with two replications of 30 birds. Body weight and feed intake were followed on a weekly basis; the average daily feed intake and feed conversion were calculated. By the end of the experiment (day 49), slaughter analysis was performed on 20 birds: 5 broilers from each of sex separate groups, 5 males and 5 females from the mixed group with live weight close to the group average. The carcass weight (g), weights of carcass cuts, giblets and abdominal fat were determined. Slaughter yield and body parts ratios were calculated. The results demonstrated that sex separate rearing of broilers contributed to higher final body weight - by 6.9 % in females (P<0.05) and by 2.9 % in males (P>0.05), but had no effect on feed conversion. Sex separate rearing resulted in heavier carcasses by 3.6% (P<0.05) and more uniform weight as compared to mixed rearing. The sex effect on body weight and slaughter traits was more considerable in males with respect to carcass, thigh, back, wings and giblets weights (P<0.05) but not abdominal fat whose weight was higher in female broilers (P<0.05). Better uniformity of final body weight of broilers reared sex separate and the reduced variation in carcass weight and weight of cuts (breast and thigh) would facilitate slaughterhouse processing and would contribute to the realization of produce and meeting distribution network demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the effects of sex -- linked feathering alleles on laying performance, hatchability parameters and body measurements in hens from two White Plymouth Rock lines (line L and line K) used as maternal lines in broiler production. Four groups of 18-week-old hens were formed, two of each line, with genotype K/W (slow feathering) and k+/W (rapid feathering) respectively. Groups of line L included 72 hens divided into 6 boxes with 1 rooster per 12 hens, whereas line K groups comprised 96 hens of each genotype, housed in 8 boxes with one rooster per 12 hens, totally 192 birds.The K locus alleles had no significant effect on egg production traits (p>0.05). The presence of slow feathering allele resulted in lower fertility and hatchability of set eggs in both studied lines (p<0.05). A substantial effect of feathering rate alleles was observed with respect to the egg shape index (p<0.05), eggshell thickness (p<0.001) and albumen index (p<0.05). The presence of the slow feathering allele resulted in lower live body weight of birds from line K at the age of 36 weeks (p<0.05), but in longer thighs (p<0.01) and metatarsi (p<0.001) in both lines. The selection for creation of slow feathering lines for feather sexing purposes should take into consideration the effect of the K gene on studied traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was performed with the goal of establishing the frequency of alleles for fast or slow feathering at the K locus in two lines of White Plymouth Rock hens (maternal forms) -- lines L and K, as well as their influence on the birds' live weight during growth. The rate of feathering was determined at one day of age according to the length of the primary and secondary wing feathers. The birds' weight development was controlled through individual weighing at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. In male chickens of the L and K lines, a higher frequency of the slow-feathering allele was found, respectively, 0.676 and 0.503 against 0.203 and 0.306 in females. Male and female chickens of the L line with a rapid-feathering genotype had higher live body weight than those with alternative genotype at ages of 2 to 12 weeks. There were no differences between the feathering genotypes for female chickens of the K line, whereas in males there was a tendency for higher live body weight with the rapid-feathering genotype. Slow-feathering chickens of both sexes of the same line were by 81.20 g (4.10%) lighter than rapid-feathering ones at the age of 12 weeks (p<0.05). The effect of slow- or rapid-feathering alleles was not identical for both sexes and the studied lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was performed in 2011 in the breeder farm of the Hybrid Poultry Centre at the Institute of agriculture - Stara Zagora in order to determine the effect of the different preincubation storage periods on hatchability traits of turkey eggs and the changes in egg components. Eggs from light layer (LL) line of turkeys at the age of 38 weeks used as maternal side for turkey-broilers production were used. They were divided into the following groups: eggs stored for 14, 10, and 4 days as well as fresh eggs (without storage). The storage of eggs took place in an egg storehouse with constant air temperature and humidity (17°C and 72%). The loss of weight during the storage increased as the storage duration prolonged (ᵖ<0.001). During incubation, the highest weight loss percentage was exhibited by eggs stored for 10 days (14.29%) that was statistically significantly (ᵖ<0.001) different from weight loss of fresh eggs. which lost weight. The highest fertility (92.42%) was noted in fresh eggs. A very high early embryonic death rate was observed in eggs stored for 14 days (13.63%). The hatchability of fertile eggs was the highest in fresh eggs (90.77%) and the lowest in eggs stored for 14 days (71.45%) (ᵖ<0.001). The albumen percentage of total egg weight was the highest in fresh eggs (59.09%). The albumen pH increased with the storage duration and was the highest in eggs stored for 14 days (9.25). Albumen's height decreased as storage duration became longer. For incubation to be use turkeys eggs from LL line stored at least time at 72% humidity and 17°C, because hatchability decreases with increasing duration of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of avian gene pool preservation should be linked to the development of a new trend in selection allowing rational use of the diversity of breeds and lines. Ten original chickens lines are reared in the Poultry Breeding Unit at the Institute of Agriculture, Stara Zagora: ?Z-80 B, ?Z-80 ?, Line ?, Line D, Line G, Line NG, Line ?, Line Ss, Line ChS, Line StR controlling their productivity through reproductive traits, live body weight at the age of 1 day, 5 months and 10 months, egg production and survival rate for the production period. The reproductive traits of chickens from the gene pool are characterized with high egg fertility - from 96.56% for Line NG t? 86.98% of Plymouth Rock Line G. Among the egg-type chicken lines, the highest hatchability rate from fertile eggs was observed in Line D - 89.05%. Chickens of all lines studied exhibited low death rates. The highest egg mass was that of chickens from Line G - 63.10 g and Line ? - 61.73 g The highest egg production over the 180-day period was that of the egg-type Line ? - 146 eggs, and Line ?Z-80 B - 145.67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was performed in the Poultry Breeding Unit at the Institute of Agriculture, Stara Zagora, in 2009-2010. Three different chicken genotypes obtained by a specific plan were used: line R and line T from the Rhode Island Red breed and line N from the Rhode Island White breed. For each line, 20 selection nests with 12 hens and 2 cockerels (one principal and one spare) were formed. On the basis of observed zootechnological parameters, the line T was found to be superior to the other two lines with the highest live body weight of hens and cockerels and the lowest feed consumption per egg. Line N exhibited the highest hen-housed egg production rate, the intensity of egg laying, the age of egg laying's start and hatchability. The fertility or eggs produced from this line was higher than that of Line N by 7.94%, whereas the hatchability of fertile eggs was by 2.19% higher than that of Line P. The egg mass for Line P and Line T with 60.90 g and 60.24 g (?< 0.01) was superior to Line N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to assess feature preferences, patient acceptance, reliability, and safety of the new Lilly Humulin/Humalog 3.0 ml prefilled insulin pen in a clinical setting., Material/methods: A total of 330 patients in Croatia with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus who required at least one injection of insulin per day were treated with Humulin 30/70 or Humalog for 4 to 6 weeks using the new prefilled pen. Questionnaires concerning various aspects of the pen performance were administered at endpoint., Results: The features of the Lilly 3.0 ml pen device ranked most highly by patients (% of excellent or good ratings) were cartridge visibility (93%), attaching/replacing needles (93%), ease of dose correction (92%), checking insulin flow (90%) and dialling of insulin dose (89%). Features of the pen device rated most highly by patients in comparison with the delivery systems used before the study and the percentage of patients rating those features as much better or better were ease of dose correction (74%), cartridge visibility (67%), audible dialing clicks (55%) and size of dose numbers (52%). Most respondents (78%) preferred single-unit versus two-unit dosage increments. The majority of patients rated the new prefilled pen as being more convenient and easier to use, and indicated that it represented a significant or modest an improvement over their previous insulin injection method., Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the new Lilly 3.0 ml prefilled pen is acceptable for patients who were previously using either reusable devices or the traditional syringe and vial.