Effects of strain, sex and age on growth performance of Malaysian kampong chickens
2014
Engku Azahan, E.A. | Azlina Azma, A. | Noraziah, M.
The effect of strain (genotype), sex and age on growth performance was evaluated in kampong chickens reared in individual cages. One hundred and fifty day-old North strain chicks and the same number of South strain were utilized. Significant strain effects were observed, with the North strain being significantly superior to the South strain with respect to body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake while the difference in feed conversion ratio (FCR) between strains was significant only for the 14-wk rearing age. Sexual dimorphism was exhibited, with males consuming more feed, gaining more weight and recording lower FCR than females (p<0.01). Significant interaction effects of strain by sex were observed for BWG and feed intake over the rearing age of 10 wk but not over 14 wk, while no such interaction occurred for FCR over all rearing ages. With increases in rearing age from 10 to 14 wk, BWG, feed intake and FCR increased significantly while productivity index consistently declined.
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