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Research Article

Analysis of productive traits and egg quality in old native breeds of Greenleg Partridge and Yellowleg Partridge hens

Józefa Krawczyk

Department of Animal Genetic Resources Conservation, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Balice n. Kraków, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 15(3), 2016, 83‒96
2. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2016.15.3.07

Abstract. The objective of the study was to analyse productive traits and quality of eggs in two native breeds of laying hens: Greenleg Partridge (Z-11) and Yellowleg Partridge (Ż-33). The populations of these old native breeds of hens are valuable for breeders as a reserve of unique traits, which are not found in the lines selected for increased egg production. The productive results and egg quality of these two breeds showed considerable differences, which confirms their genetic distinctiveness. Yellowleg Partridge hens were characterized by higher body weight, higher egg weight, earlier attainment of sexual maturity, and better egg production and hatchability compared to Greenleg Partridge hens. Age of hens was found to have a significant effect on egg internal quality and egg shell quality, and on reproductive performance of both breeds. The present study confirmed the known relationship of decreasing egg quality with increasing age of hens of both breeds. Much better hatchability of set and fertile eggs was obtained for Greenleg Partridge hens, and for both breeds from eggs set from younger hens (March and April).

Keywords: laying hens, native breeds, productivity, egg quality