ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BODY WEIGHT AND SOME EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS IN A STRAIN OF COMMERCIAL LAYER

Abstract

Fifty 28 weeks old layers were reared in individual cages for 9 Weeks to detect the effect weight has on some production traits. Body Weight was positively though non- significantly (P.0.05) correlated with egg number, egg weight and negatively with Shell thickness (r =-0.12) and egg index (r=-0.15). Estimates of optimum 28-week body weights, as determined from second-degree (quadratic) equations, indicated that for satisfactory performance a body weight range of 1728 to 1814g is required, Breeding and good management especially feeding are thought to be capable of maintaining this weight range.