<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Broiler breeders hens (meat-type hens) have lower reproductive potential than laying-type hens. Statistical models for predicting potential laying pattern are important for economically optimal breeding strategy of egg production in a poultry flock. The aim of the study was to find the most suitable function for describing the egg-laying rate and egg weight during the broiler breeders’ production period and to characterize laying pattern in groups of hens with different egg production. The following four mathematical models were used: gamma, Narushin-Takma, logistic-curvilinear, and compartmental. The daily recorded egg production data from 100 broiler breeder hens were used. Hen-weekly egg production was described using laying rate during successive weeks after reaching sexual maturity (26 weeks of age) and daily recorded egg weight. On the basis of the total number of eggs laid (NEggs), groups of hens with low (21%), intermediate (52%), and high (27%) egg production were created. The differences between the goodness-of-fit criteria values (AIC, R<sup>2</sup> MSE) were small, with all the examined models having the same quality of curve fitting for egg-laying rate and egg weight. The logistic-curvilinear model was able to fit well both egg-laying rate and egg weight of the whole broiler breeder hens’ flock, and also when hens were divided into three egg production groups. This model could be considered in a long-term prediction of the reproductive potential in the commercial management. Moreover, the presented model could be useful in the research on different reproduction parameters of individual hens.</p></abstract>

Broiler breeders hens (meat-type hens) have lower reproductive potential than laying-type hens. Statistical models for predicting potential laying pattern are important for economically optimal breeding strategy of egg production in a poultry flock. The aim of the study was to find the most suitable function for describing the egg-laying rate and egg weight during the broiler breeders’ production period and to characterize laying pattern in groups of hens with different egg production. The following four mathematical models were used: gamma, Narushin-Takma, logistic-curvilinear, and compartmental. The daily recorded egg production data from 100 broiler breeder hens were used. Hen-weekly egg production was described using laying rate during successive weeks after reaching sexual maturity (26 weeks of age) and daily recorded egg weight. On the basis of the total number of eggs laid (NEggs), groups of hens with low (21%), intermediate (52%), and high (27%) egg production were created. The differences between the goodness-of-fit criteria values (AIC, R2 MSE) were small, with all the examined models having the same quality of curve fitting for egg-laying rate and egg weight. The logistic-curvilinear model was able to fit well both egg-laying rate and egg weight of the whole broiler breeder hens’ flock, and also when hens were divided into three egg production groups. This model could be considered in a long-term prediction of the reproductive potential in the commercial management. Moreover, the presented model could be useful in the research on different reproduction parameters of individual hens.

Mathematical Models for Egg Production in Broiler Breeder Hens

Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, University of Agriculture, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków,

Department of Swine and Small Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków,

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Mathematical Models for Egg Production in Broiler Breeder Hens"}

Broiler breeders hens (meat-type hens) have lower reproductive potential than laying-type hens. Statistical models for predicting potential laying pattern are...

Mathematical Models for Egg Production in Broiler Breeder Hens

Article Category: Behaviour, well-being, production technology, and environment

Published Online: Oct 27, 2016

Page range: 1185 - 1198

Received: Nov 25, 2015

Accepted: May 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0037

Keywords
broiler breeders, mathematical models, egg production, egg weight

© by Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mathematical Models for Egg Production in Broiler Breeder Hens

Article Category: Behaviour, well-being, production technology, and environment

Published Online: Oct 27, 2016

Page range: 1185 - 1198

Received: Nov 25, 2015

Accepted: May 12, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0037

Keywordsbroiler breeders, mathematical models, egg production, egg weight

© by Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
broiler breeders, mathematical models, egg production, egg weight