海兰褐蛋鸡和京粉2号蛋鸡的生长发育规律及初产蛋品质比较研究

[目的]研究相同饲养条件下海兰褐蛋鸡苗和京粉2号蛋鸡苗的生长发育规律,评价其初产蛋品质.[方法]选取1日龄海兰褐蛋鸡苗和京粉2号蛋鸡苗各500只,在相同条件下饲养,每周随机挑选60只个体测量体重,直到13周龄试验结束.采用Logistic、Gompertz和Von Bertalanffy 3种曲线模型对2种鸡苗的生长发...     

Influence of strain and flock age on geometrical and mechanical attributes of eggs produced from Japanese quail birds

We investigated how the geometrical and mechanical properties of eggshell of Japanese quail are affected by strain and flock age. Two strains of quail (white and gray) were used in the current experiment. The results showed that there was no significant difference for all geometric measurements due to strain effect. Eggs produced from the older birds showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) values compared with younger age for all studied traits. Eggs produced from quails at 22 weeks had a significantly (P < 0.01) darker yolk color than that of the younger age. Superiority in shell thickness, shell weight, and breaking force was detected in eggs of gray quails compared with white quails. On the other hand, the eggs from white quails had significantly higher values for static stiffness and Young's modulus as compared with those of gray counterparts. A significant decrease (P < 0.01) was found for fracture toughness and Young's modulus in eggs of aged birds. A significant negative relationship was found between the breaking force and both static stiffness and Young's modulus. A significant positive relationship was observed between breaking force and both shell thickness and shell percentage. The phenotypic correlation between eggshell breaking force and toughness was relatively high.     

Effects of commercial enzyme preparations on egg and eggshell quality in laying hens

1. Four different commercial enzyme products were added to standard commercial layer diets, based on barley, wheat or triticale. 2. Diets were fed to 4 different strains of commercial laying hen: ISA Brown, Hy-Line CB, Tegel SB2 and Tegel HiSex. 3. Diets were given for 5 weeks prior to measurements of egg and eggshell quality. 4. The inclusion of commercial enzyme products in the diets had no effect on egg weight. 5. Positive effects of the enzymes were: improved eggshell breaking strength, shell weight, percentage shell and shell thickness for the barley-based diet and increased eggshell breaking strength for two of the enzymes with the wheat-based diets. 6. Negative effects of the enzyme products were slightly lighter coloured eggshells and reduced albumen quality for the barley-based diet and for two enzymes with the wheat-based diet. 7. The addition of commercial enzyme preparations had no main effect on egg and eggshell quality for the triticale-based diet, except for effects on yolk colour. 8. Yolk colour was lower than control for enzyme 3 in all diets and for enzyme 4 with the barley- and wheat-based diets. 9. Further investigation is required to elucidate the specific enzyme components that influence egg quality.     

Measuring the eggshell strength of 6 different genetic strains of laying hens: techniques and comparisons

1. Eggshell quality was compared in 6 different strains of laying hens. Three strains were commercial; the three others were experimental. 2. Four different variables describing the strength of eggshells were investigated. Three of them were the classical ones eggshell thickness, shell stiffness measured during quasi-static compression and breaking force. Dynamic stiffness, introduced by Coucke (Ph.D. Thesis, KU Leuven, 1998), was the 4th. The fact that this measurement is dynamic could be helpful in genetic selection for eggshell breakage, because forces applied to the egg in practice are dynamic, rather than static. 3. Hisex White hens produce eggs with the strongest eggshell, in terms of all 4 eggshell variables. However, their shell quality in terms of breaking force did not remain constant over the laying period, unlike 4 other strains. 4. All strains showed a decline in quasi-static stiffness over time. 5. The eggshell thickness of three strains showed a decline over time. 6. Dynamic stiffness remained constant or improved in all strain. 7. All variables describing the mechanical eggshell strength gave different information.     

The impact of feeding supplemental chelated trace minerals on shell quality,tibia breaking strength,and immune response in laying hens

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term inclusion of the trace elements zinc, copper, and manganese chelated with the hydroxy analogue of methionine on layer performance, eggshell quality, tibia breaking strength, and immune response. A total of 216 Hy-Line W-36 laying hens were allocated to 6 treatments with 36 pens/treatment and 1 hen/cage using a randomized complete block design. There were 6 treatments with supplemental Zn-Cu-Mn, as follows: T1 0-0-0 ppm, T2 20-5-20 ppm as sulfates, T3 20-5-20 ppm as chelates, T4 40-10-40 ppm as sulfates, T5 40-10-40 ppm as chelates, and T6 80-10-80 as sulfates. The feeding of dietary treatments started at wk 24 pullet age and measurements of the key parameters were made from wk 44 to 80. Overall results (one-way ANOVA) indicated a significant treatment effect (P < 0.05) for shell thickness (at wk 74). Hens fed either no supplemental trace minerals (T1) or lower levels of supplemental inorganic trace minerals (ITM) (T2) had lower (P < 0.05) shell thickness when compared to high levels of sulfates (T6). Supplemental minerals as chelates at lower levels (T3) resulted in comparable (P > 0.05) response to T1 and T6 but different (P < 0.05) from T2. Factorial analysis of the data showed an improvement in shell breaking strength (P < 0.05 at wk 68), shell thickness (P = 0.08 at wk 68; P = 0.03 at wk 74), tibia breaking strength (P = 0.07) and antibody (Ab) titers to SRBCs (P < 0.05 at wk 63; 1 wk after secondary antigen challenge) in hens fed chelated trace mineral when compared to inorganic trace minerals. In summary, feeding laying hens’ diets containing supplemental chelated trace minerals showed improvements in eggshell thickness and immune response when compared to inorganic salts at specific time points measured during the latter part of the laying cycle.     

七个鸡种蛋品质比较分析

鸡蛋品质是鸡蛋生产者和消费者都非常关注的性状,为分析蛋品质在鸡种内及鸡种间的差异,本试验测定了5个地方鸡种和2个国外蛋鸡品种各30个蛋共12项常规蛋品质指标。分析结果表明:遗传背景对蛋品质影响较大,2个国外鸡种的蛋重、哈氏单位等指标高于地方鸡种,而地方鸡种在蛋形指数、蛋壳质量、蛋黄颜色以及蛋黄比率上占优,国内蛋用鸡种改良可以选择蛋黄性状为重点选育方向。7个鸡种中,海兰白蛋鸡的蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度、蛋黄重是最大的,但海兰褐蛋鸡却与之完全相反,两者之间差异显著(P<0.05)。从品种内差异角度来看,商业化鸡种蛋品质变异系数小,国内鸡种整齐度有待进一步提高。     

Dietary supplementation with sodium bicarbonate improves calcium absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during peak production

1. The advantage of supplemental sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) on eggshell quality in laying hens changes with age. Besides increasing calcium (Ca) secretion in the eggshell gland, it may improve Ca absorption in the intestine or kidney.

2. Hy-Line Brown layers (n = 384), 25 weeks of age, were allocated to two treatment groups in two experiments, each of which included 4 replicates of 24 hens. Hens were fed a basal diet (control) or the basal diet containing 3 g NaHCO₃ g/kg for 50 or 20 weeks in Experiment 1 or 2, respectively. A 24-h continuous lighting regimen was used to allow hens to consume the dietary supplements during the period of active eggshell formation.

3. In Experiment 1, particularly from 25 to 50 weeks of age, and in Experiment 2, NaHCO₃ supplementation favoured hen-d egg production at the expense of lower egg weight. The increased eggshell thickness should have nothing to do with the additional eggshell formation, because of the unchanged egg mass and daily eggshell calcification.

4. At 35 weeks of age in both experiments, NaHCO₃ supplementation increased duodenal expression of calbindin-d28k (CaBP-D28k) protein, contributing to higher Ca retention and balance.

5. From 50 to 75 weeks of age in Experiment 1, the hens had little response to NaHCO₃ supplementation and showed a negative trend on eggshell thickness and strength.

6. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with 3 g NaHCO₃ g/kg improves Ca absorption and eggshell quality of laying hens during the peak but not late production period, with the introduction of continuous lighting.

     

珍珠鸡蛋与海兰褐鸡蛋蛋品质及营养成分比较分析

珍珠鸡是从国外引进,经人工驯养育成的一个特色品种,其蛋用性能获得了显著进展,为加快蛋产品的开发力度,增加其附加价值,对珍珠鸡蛋和海兰褐鸡蛋蛋品质及营养成分进行比较分析。试验随机抽取新鲜珍珠鸡蛋、海兰褐鸡蛋各100枚,测定其蛋外、内在品质及主要营养成分,采用Duncan新复极差法、皮尔逊相关系数进行比较分析。研究表明,在外部品质方面,海兰褐鸡蛋蛋重高于珍珠鸡蛋15.54g（35.61%）,有极显著差异（P〈0.01）;珍珠鸡蛋蛋壳厚度比海兰褐鸡蛋的蛋壳厚0.14mm（40%）,差异极显著（P〈0.01）;由于蛋重的差异,两种鸡蛋蛋黄比例、蛋白比例、蛋壳比例也均有极显著差异（P〈0.01）。在内在品质方面,两种鸡蛋蛋清pH、蛋黄高度、蛋黄系数均无明显差异;珍珠鸡蛋浓蛋白高度比海兰褐鸡蛋的低3.02mm,有极显著差异（P〈0.01）;浓蛋白系数比海兰褐的高0.87,有显著差异（P〈0.05）;珍珠鸡蛋蛋黄颜色比海兰褐鸡蛋的颜色大一个罗氏比色值,有显著差异（P〈0.05）。在营养成分上,以g/枚为单位,珍珠鸡蛋的主要营养成分除胆固醇高于海兰褐鸡蛋外,其他均低于海兰褐鸡蛋。以g/100g为单位,珍珠鸡蛋水分含量明显低于海兰褐鸡蛋,相差12.62（20.21%）,差异极显著（P〈0.01）,脂肪含量也低于海兰褐鸡蛋,差异显著（P〈0.05）,相差1.34（4.4%）,其它营养成分均高于海兰褐鸡蛋。珍珠鸡蛋是较海兰褐鸡蛋小、壳厚、水分含量低、营养丰富的浓缩型蛋,为珍珠鸡蛋的蛋品开发创造了条件。     

Comparative Pigmentation Efficiency of High Dietary Levels of Apo-Ester and Marigold Extract on Quality Traits of Whole Liquid Egg of Two Strains of Laying Hens

This trial was carried out to compare the effect of the dietary supplementation of high doses of either synthetic pigment ethyl ester of β-apo-8′-carotenoic acid (apo-ester) or natural pigments, mainly lutein and zeaxanthin, extracted from Tagetes erecta, on egg quality of hens laying brown shell eggs (ISA Brown) and white shell eggs (Hy-Line White W-36). The hens of each strain were divided into 6 groups and fed a corn-soybean basal diet supplemented either with 40, 60, and 80 ppm of apo-ester (APO) or with 120, 180, and 240 ppm of marigold extract (MAR). Egg pigmentation rose linearly and significantly (P < 0.01) as the dietary levels of apo-ester increased, but this did not occur when MAR supplementation was used. The amount of β-carotene equivalents in whole liquid egg of MAR treatments was almost constant with varying pigment dietary dose and was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in APO treatments. In both hen strains, whole liquid egg redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) were higher with APO supplementation. The egg component weights were highly affected (P < 0.01) by the hen strain, with yolk:egg ratio higher in the Hy-Line. The trial confirms that in spite of the higher level of MAR supplementation, APO has a better efficiency in whole liquid egg pigmentation. The ISA Brown hens showed a better ability to absorb dietary carotenoids than did the Hy-Line White.     

不同饲养方式对蛋鸡生产性能、鸡蛋品质及经济效益的影响

文章旨在评估不同饲养方式对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质和血清生化指标的影响。试验选择产蛋性能接近的22周龄海兰褐壳蛋鸡540只,随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复36只。笼养组蛋鸡采用三层阶梯饲养（0.6 m2/只）,网上平养组蛋鸡在金属网丝上饲养（1.5 m2/只）,垫料平养组在平铺20 cm稻壳的水泥地板上平养（1.8 m2/只）。试验共开展28周,包括2周的适应期。结果：网上平养和垫料平养组24～36 w和24～29 w蛋鸡平均日采食量较笼养组蛋鸡分别显著提高5.71%、6.22%和4.81%、4.48%（P＜0.05）。此外,垫料平养组24～36 w和24～49 w蛋鸡的料重比较笼养组分别显著提高7.31%和4.09%（P＜0.05）。在36 w时,垫料平养组鸡蛋的蛋壳强度最高,脏蛋率最低（P＜0.05）。在49 w时,笼养组鸡蛋的蛋壳厚度最低（P＜0.05）,脏蛋率最高（P＜0.05）。笼养组蛋鸡血清葡萄糖、甘油三酯、总蛋白和胆固醇浓度均最高（P＜0.05）,但高密度脂蛋白浓度最低（P＜0.05）。结论：网上平养和垫料平养可以提高蛋鸡采食量,但笼养蛋鸡的饲料效率表现最佳。此外,垫料平养提高了鸡蛋的蛋壳强度和蛋壳厚度,降低了破蛋率。     

Relationship between egg‐shell colour and two measurements of shell strength in the Vasca breed

1. Egg‐shell colour, egg specific gravity, shell thickness and egg weight were determined for 2080 eggs from three varieties of the Vasca, a Spanish brown‐egg‐laying hen.

2. Intermediate, positive and significant (P < 0·01) correlation coefficients were found between egg‐shell colour and specific gravity (0·25), or shell thickness (0·21). There was a very high (0·84), significant (P < 0·01) correlation between the measures of shell strength.

3. Shell thickness was accurately predicted with both specific gravity and egg weight as independent variables (determination coefficient 0·74); eggshell colour did not explain any further variation.

4. All traits showed considerable departure from normality in the form of negative kurtosis (shell colour and specific gravity), positive kurtosis (shell thickness and egg weight), negative skewness (shell thickness) or positive skewness (egg weight).

5. Egg‐shell colour, specific gravity and shell thickness were less in July, in old birds and in eggs laid in the morning. Differences in egg quality traits between the three varieties were not significant.

     

Effects of age and dietary soybean oil level on eggshell quality,bone strength and blood biochemistry in laying hens

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the differences in eggshell quality, bone quality and serum bone biochemistry markers associated with changes in age and dietary soybean oil levels in laying hens.

2. A total of 54, 19-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were housed in 18 battery cages (3 birds/cage) and randomly divided into three diet treatments for 90 d: control-fat (CF, 1.9% soybean oil), moderate-fat (MF, 7% soybean oil) and high-fat (HF, 10% soybean oil).

3. The hens’ body weights (BW), egg production, egg weights, eggshell thickness and femoral diameter were higher at d 90 than at d 60 or d 30. Meanwhile, feed intake, relative bone weights, all bone strength parameters and serum Ca were lower at d 90 or 60 than at d 30.

4. Compared to the CF hens, the feed intake, BW, abdominal fat pad weights and serum alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in MF or HF hens. The eggshell thickness, relative femoral and tibial weight, femoral stiffness, femoral modulus, tibial mixed force and serum calcium and phosphorus levels were lower in MF or HF hens than CF hens.

5. These findings suggest that bone loss in caged hens starts from an early stage of the laying period, and dietary oil (particularly with diets over 10% soybean oil) has harmful effects on eggshell quality, bone strength and bone mineralisation from an early stage of the laying period.     

Genotype X environment interaction in two breeds of chickens kept under two management systems in Southern Ethiopia

Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Fayoumi chickens were evaluated on-station in a college farm and on-farm in village farms, whereas local chickens were only tested under on-farm condition. Traits recorded are egg production and egg quality, body weight and feed efficiency at 4, 8 and 12 months of age. Significant age effect was found for most traits except for shell thickness, albumen height and egg length. Also, significant breed by management system interactions were found for all traits measured in both systems. Fayoumi chickens were higher in egg production in both management systems. Moreover, they were higher than RIR in feed efficiency. RIR were higher in most egg quality traits and had higher weight gain. Local chickens performed below the two exotic breeds in most of the traits, but had higher weight gain than Fayoumi. Chickens kept on-farm had poorer performance than those kept on-station in all traits except for yolk colour.     

太行鸡与矮脚麻鸡蛋品质比较研究

随机抽取214日龄的引入品种矮脚麻鸡与河北本地品种太行鸡种鸡鸡蛋各100枚,分别测定蛋重、蛋形指数、蛋比重、蛋黄颜色、哈氏单位、蛋黄比率、蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度、血肉斑比率。结果表明:二品种鸡蛋品质在蛋重、蛋比重、蛋黄颜色、蛋壳厚度方面无显著性差异(P>0.05);哈氏单位、蛋黄比率差异极显著(P<0.01);蛋形指数、蛋壳强度差异显著(P<0.05)。     

Time study examining the effect of range,cage-free,and cage environments on man-hours committed to bird care in 3 brown egg layer strains

Growing consumer awareness concerning layer hen welfare has caused the egg industry to consider alternative environments for egg-laying hens. However, the time commitment for alternative care has not been researched in detail since the 1950s. In 2 experiments, we evaluated the man-hour commitment associated with 3 different environments, including range (R), cage-free (CF), and cage systems (C). Concurrently within the R and CF systems, 3 strains of birds, Hy-Line Silver Brown, Hy-Line Brown, and Barred Plymouth Rock, were examined to see if strain differences were associated with man-hours associated for care. All birds were raised within the environment they were going to be laying in at 17 wk of age, the time data collection started. The system study was a 3-factor randomized design that commenced at 17 wk, when the laying phase commenced with 8 R replicates, 24 CF replicates, and 4 C replicates. The strain study consisted of R and CF systems and 3 strains of Hy-Line Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown, and Barred Plymouth Rock. All husbandry was provided as appropriate to the production system and in accordance with the approved animal care procedures. Time was recorded for all of the procedures done within the replicates (i.e., egg collection, feeding, and so on). The data were transformed first by man-hours per bird housed and second by man-hours per bird surviving. All time data were analyzed using PROC GLM in SAS. Man-hours per hen decreased from 17 to 37 wk in all production systems. The production environment C required only 0.334 h/hen housed, which is lower as compared with either the CF at 0.486 h/hen housed or R at 1.268 h/hen housed. Strain alone did not influence man-hours; however, the strain with the poorest livability had the greatest man-hour requirement for hens surviving. This study substantiates previous findings that moving from intensive to extensive production systems will increase man-hours per hen by 3 or 4 times.     

Changes in eggshell mechanical properties, crystallographic texture and in matrix proteins induced by moult in hens

The effect of moult on eggshell mechanical properties, on composition and concentrations of organic matrix components and on eggshell microstructure was investigated. The observed changes were studied to understand the role of organic matrix and eggshell microstructure in eggshell strength. Moult was induced by zinc oxide (20 g zinc/kg diet) in 53 ISA Brown laying hens at 78 weeks of age. No difference was observed for egg or eggshell weights after moult. In contrast, moult improved the shell breaking strength (28.09 vs 33.71 N). After moult, there was a decrease in the average size of calcite crystals composing the eggshell and in their heterogeneity, whereas crystal orientation remained basically the same. After moulting, the total protein concentration in eggshell increased slightly. The comparisons of SDS-PAGE profiles of the organic matrix constituents extracted before and after moulting showed changes in staining intensity of certain bands. After moult, bands associated with main proteins specific to eggshell formation (OC-116 and OC-17) showed higher staining intensity, while the intensity of the egg white proteins (ovotransferrin, ovalbumin and lysozyme) decreased. ELISA confirmed the decrease in ovotransferrin after moult. Its concentration was inversely correlated with breaking strength before moult. These observations suggest that changes in eggshell crystal size could be due to changes in organic matrix composition. These changes may provide a mechanism for the improvement in shell solidity after moulting.     

孕酮对鸡蛋壳品质的影响

本试验旨在通过腿肌注射孕酮来研究孕酮对蛋壳品质的影响。选取72只40周龄的海兰褐蛋鸡,随机分为6组,每组12只蛋鸡,单笼饲养。对照组注射花生油;处理1在排卵后5 h注射1.00 mg/kg体重(BW)的孕酮;处理2和处理3分别在排卵后5 h和2 h注射0.25 mg/kg BW的孕酮;处理4和处理5分别在排卵后2 h和1 h注射0.15 mg/kg BW的孕酮。处理后第2天上午收集各组所产鸡蛋,测定蛋壳强度和厚度。结果表明:处理1所产蛋均为破壳蛋,处理2含部分破壳蛋和部分蛋壳完好的鸡蛋,处理3、处理4和处理5没有破壳蛋;与对照组相比,处理1和处理2的蛋壳厚度降低(P<0.05),处理4蛋壳强度和厚度增加(P<0.05),处理3和处理5的蛋壳强度和厚度无显著差异;与对照组比,处理1和处理4的蛋壳超微结构差异显著。结果显示,孕酮可以影响蛋壳强度和厚度,改变蛋壳超微结构,其影响程度与剂量和注射时间有关。     

The effect of dietary calcium concentration and particle size on performance, eggshell quality, bone mechanical properties and tibia mineral contents in moulted laying hens

1. A total of 72 H&;N Brown Nick laying hens, 76 weeks of age (moulted at 60 weeks of age), were randomly assigned into a 3?×?3 factorial arrangement with three limestone particle sizes and three dietary Ca concentrations (30, 36 and 42?g/kg Ca); with 8 replicates per treatments, and one hen (individual) per experimental unit.

2. Particle sizes of the limestone were: distributions smaller than 2?mm (Fine), between 2 to 5?mm (Medium), and larger than 5?mm (Large). The fine, medium and large limestone particles were all obtained from the same source, and sieve sizes used had screen sizes 2?mm and 5?mm.

3. The different concentrations of dietary Ca, particle size or interactions had no significant effect on egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed intake or feed conversion ratio.

4. The concentrations of dietary Ca and particle sizes had no significant effect on egg breaking strength, eggshell as % by weight of whole egg or eggshell thickness. The interactions between Ca concentrations and particle sizes had a significant effect on eggshell breaking strength, but not on other parameters.

5. Different dietary particle sizes had no significant effect on the Ca, P and Mg mineral contents of eggshell. While the different concentrations of Ca in diets had a significant effect on the P content of eggshell, they had no significant effect on Ca and Mg contents.

6. Different dietary concentrations of Ca had a significant effect on shear stress, and Ca and Mg contents of tibiae, but not other parameters. Also, dietary particle sizes had a significant effect on shear stress and Ca contents of tibiae. The interaction between Ca concentrations and particle sizes had a significant effect on tibia shear force and Ca content.

7. According to the results of this study, moulted brown laying hens should be fed 36?g/kg Ca and a medium limestone particle size (2–5?mm) in the diet to maintain performance, eggshell and bone quality.     

Genetic variation for egg production,egg quality and bone strength in selected and traditional breeds of laying fowl

1. A multi-breed experiment was conducted with 25 commercial and traditional lines of laying fowl to determine the extent of between-breed genetic variation for adult body weight, sexual maturity, rate of lay, egg weight and egg composition to 55 weeks of age. The genetic variability for bone strength and eggshell strength was determined at 55 weeks of age and a comparison of commercially selected and traditional breeds was performed. 2. The proportion of the total variation that was associated with breed or line of origin was high (> 0.8) for body weight, sexual maturity and shell colour; moderately high (0.4 to 0.7) for rate of lay, early and late egg weight, weights of egg yolk, albumen and shell at 55 weeks; and low (< 0.4) for egg weight at 42 to 45 weeks, albumen quality and the number of egg inclusions. 3. There were no detectable differences between breed within category (traditional and commercial lines) for rate of lay, and estimates of breed variation for egg weight and egg components were substantially decreased within category compared with the overall analysis. 4. Commercial lines displayed earlier sexual maturity, greater rates and persistency of lay, and higher egg weights at earlier (32 to 35 weeks) and later (52 to 55 weeks) ages. At 55 weeks, the larger eggs from commercial birds contained more albumen of higher quality and paler yolks of similar weight to those from traditional breeds. The relative weight of the eggshell was similar in both categories. 5. There was considerable genetic variation between commercial lines for bone density and a moderate proportion of genetic variability for bone strength. Commercial lines had very weak bones compared with traditional lines but there was relatively little genetic variation for eggshell strength. The results suggest that eggshell quality is maintained in genetically selected lines at the expense of bone strength and bone radiographic density.     

Influence of sex chromosomes on laying-house performance of chickens

A special population segregating for the sex chromosome was developed to estimate the Z and W sex chromosome effects sampled from a Fayoumi (Egyptian) breed and a heavy‐breed synthetic population. Analysis of 2 years’ data from more than 3000 pullets indicate that both sex chromosomes influence age at first egg with the Z being the more important. Pullets with the heavy‐breed Z chromosome matured 17 d earlier and laid 5% more eggs than those with the Fayoumi Z. The heavy‐breed W chromosome showed a 7‐d advance in maturity but otherwise with no significant effect on egg production.

Although this experiment was designed to estimate parameter differences between two breeds, the design can be generalised to estimate the distribution of genetic differences due to autosomes, sex chromosomes, heterosis and maternal influences both between and within avian populations.