Modulation of prolactin levels for increased egg production in domestic hen
2003
Reddy, I.J. | David, C.G. | Sarma, P.V. | Singh, K. (National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Banglore (India))
This study was carried out to investigate the basic mechanism involved in taking pauses between the sequences of egg laying in domestic hen and also to extend the sequence length, egg production and to decrease the intersequence pause days by modulating the prolactin levels in birds. Shite Leghorn healthy female birds (50) were administered with antiprolactin agent subcutaneously @ 100 æg/kg body weight at weekly intervals from 17th to 36th week of age. Another group of 50 birds as controls was given placebo in place or the modulating agent. The level of prolactin remained lower in the treated birds than that in the control birds throughout the production cycle up to 72 weeks of age. The level of prolactin even in the control group decreased during the peak production period. The number of total pause days in full production period up to the age of 72 weeks decreased significantly in treated group in comparison to the control group. The reduction in pause days in treated group resulted in 4.11% increase in egg production over that in control group. The increase in egg laying days and the total egg production were significant. The average percentage of egg production from 21 to 72 weeks period was 87.67 in treated group as compared to 83.56 in control group. These results indicated that modulation of prolactin levels using bromocryptine enhances egg production in domestic hen.
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