The Relationship Between Foot Pad Dermatitis Levels and Egg Laying Period Traits in Broiler Pure Lines

Abstract

This study was carried out with 2 pure sire (B1 and B2) and 3 dam (A1, A2 and A3) line parents between 14-42 weeks of age, which were bred in Eskişehir Transition Zone Agricultural Research Institute. FPD scores increased with advancing age in all pure lines. While lower FPD scores were observed at 14 weeks in sire lines (B1 and B2) with higher body weights, they were higher than dam lines (A1, A2 and A3) at 42 weeks. Higher egg production and hatching egg yield were obtained at 30 and 42 weeks of age in the dam lines compared to the sire lines, and the differences between the lines were found significant (P<0.01). During the laying period, hatching egg percentage in A1, A2, A3, B1 and B2 pure lines were determined as 98.55%, 96.68%, 97.75%, 96.39% and 97.23%, respectively. Differences in egg weights were significant among pure lines (P<0.01). Significant differences were determined between genotypes in terms of fertility (P<0.01). The correlation coefficients determined between the body weights at 14, 20, 30 and 42 weeks and their FPD scores were 0.70, 0.64, 0.72 and 0.67, respectively (P<0.01). Correlation coefficients of -0.56 and -0.54 were determined between 42 weeks egg production and hatching egg production and FPD values (P<0.01). Correlation coefficients between fertility and body weights were not found significant. Significant negative correlations were found between body weights and egg production and hatching egg production (P<0.01). In conclusion, while body weight and FPD levels were higher in sire lines, the dam lines were superior in hatching egg production. Although the increase in FPD level with increasing body weight contributed to the decrease in reproductive performance, there was no negative effect on the fertility