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 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.