• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2023

The current study was conducted to compare the effect of crossbred on the body weight and laying performance of Korean native chicken from hatch to week 40. A total of 873 one-day-old chicks were divided into twelve crossbreds (i.e., CFCK, CFYC, CFYD, CKCF, CKYC, CKYD, YCYD, YCCF, YCCK, YDCF, YDCK, and YDYC) and commercial layer (Hy-Line Brown) were obtained as a counterpart in the study. All the birds are raised in battery cages (76 × 61 × 46 cm³) and then raised until 14 weeks and subsequently moved to layer battery cages (60 × 25 × 45 cm³) and raised until 16 weeks. The body weight and viability were measured biweekly from hatching to week 16. The week of 16, body weight range was about 1,010.24 to 1,411.77 g. The body weight of specific crossbreeds (i.e., CKCF, YCYD, and YDYC) was found to be comparable to that of Hy-Line Brown). The viability hatch to week 14 range was about 55 to 100% and however week 14 to 16 range was 80 to 100%. The crossbred (i.e., CKCF) recorded superior (P<0.05) viability throughout the whole experiment period, even compared with Hy-Line Brown (100% vs 96%). Our results are indicating that crossbreds Korean native chicken including CKCF, and YDYC has the potential to enhance key features of laying hens during the growing phase like optimal body weight and higher viability.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2023

This study conducted a diallel-crossbreeding test using four Korean native chicken parent stock lines (YC, YD, CK, and CF) to develop a native commercial layer with high egg-laying performance. A total of 312 chickens in six combinations were examined for various traits, including livability, body weight, age at first egg-laying, hen-day, and hen-housed egg production, egg weight, and egg quality, from hatching to 60 weeks of age. The results showed that the average survival rate was 77.1±18.8% with the YDYC combination having the highest survival rate along with excellent specific combining ability. The YDYC combination exhibited significantly higher body weight compared to the other combinations (P<0.01). The average age at first egg-laying was 121.3±2.5 days, with no significant difference between the combinations. The average hen-day egg production was 74.0±6.4%, and the hen-housed egg production was 181.4±33.8 eggs with the YDCF and YCCK combinations demonstrating the highest laying performance, while the YDYC and CKCF combinations had the lowest (P<0.05). Laying performance was more influenced by specific combining ability than general combining ability. The eggs from the YDYC combination were significantly lighter and had the darkest shell color (P<0.01), whereas the YDCF combination exhibited the thickest eggshells. There was no difference in internal egg quality among combinations, except the YDCF combination had the darkest yolk color. Overall, we concluded that the YCCK combination, characterized by high laying performance and livability, and the YDCF combination with high laying performance and good egg quality are the most desirable combinations for Korean native commercial layers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.177-184
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• 2021

Sex identification in day-old chicks is essential in the poultry industry. Currently, the feather-sexing using a sex-linked inheritance is a chick sexing method used extensively in the poultry industry. For chicks produced by feather-sexing, all females are early-feathering (EF) chicks and all males are late-feathering (LF) chicks. Therefore, investigating the effects of EF and LF phenotypes on production traits of chickens is critical. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the production performance between EF and LF chickens in Korean native commercial chickens. The results showed that the survival rate of the EF chickens was significantly higher than that of the LF chickens, from hatching to 12 weeks of age (P<0.05), with the highest difference observed in females. However, no significant difference was observed in body weight between the EF and LF chickens at almost all ages. In addition, no significant difference was observed between in feed utility, such as average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio, between the EF and LF groups. In conclusion, although the survival rate of early-feathering chickens was superior to that of late-feathering chickens, no significant difference was observed in growth performance and feed utility among Korean native chickens. The results suggest that production capacity is not influenced by feathering type in the establishment of a breeder structure and production system for feather-sexing Korean native chickens, which is valuable for the practical application of feather-sexing in the poultry industry.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2012

This work was carried out to investigate the performance of growing period of two-way crossed of Korean native chickens parental stocks. A total of four hundred eighty female 2-crossbred chicks were used in this study and they were from National Institute of Animal Science. Groups were four crossbreds (4 replications/crossbred, 30 birds/replication) as A) C strain ${\times}$ Y strain, B) C strain ${\times}$ L strain, C) C strain ${\times}$ G strain and D) C strain ${\times}$ W strain. Body weight of A crossbred was the highest at the age of 8 week (P<0.05) and that of D strain was the lowest for growing period (P<0.05). Body weights of A and B crossbreds were higher than those of C and D crossbreds at the 12 and 16 weeks (P<0.05). Weekly body weights of A and B crossbreds were higher than C and D crossbreds (P<0.05), and weekly body weight of B crossbred was higher compared to other crossbreds at 0~20 weeks old. Weekly feed intake of D crossbred was the lowest among all crossbreds at 0~12, 0~16 and 0~20 weeks old (P<0.05). Weekly feed conversion ratio of C crossbred was the highest among crossbreds (P<0.05). These results can give the basic information for growth related data in 2-way crossbreed Korean Native Chickens, which can be used for the parental stocks for the laying-type of Korean native commercial chickens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the metabolic energy levels of Korean native chicken breeder diets on laying performance, egg quality, fertility and hatchability. On the basis of dietary metabolic energy values (2,800, 2,700, and 2,650 kcal/kg), 168 twenty-week-old 'Woorimatdag' breeders (maternal line) were divided into three treatment groups (four replications per treatment with each replicate containing 14 birds) and reared until 32 weeks of age. We found that the body weight of hens increased with age, although there were no significant differences among treatments with respect to body weight or egg weight. Egg production ratio at 20-24 and 24-28 weeks of age tended to be low in birds fed the 2,700 and 2,650 kcal/kg diets, although the differences among treatments were none significant. Feed intakes was significantly decreased as the metabolic energy level reduced (P<0.05). There were no significant differences among treatments with respect to feed conversion ratio or the strength and thickness of eggshell. Similarly, we detected no significant differences among the three metabolic energy levels with regards to fertility, hatchability, or chick weight. In conclusion, our findings indicate that during the initial phase of laying, the metabolic energy level of 'Woorimatdag' breeder diets could be lowered to 2,700 kcal/kg without significantly influencing the laying performance of breeders or egg quality, fertility and hatchability, and chick weight.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the performance of laying period of two-crossbred of Korean native chickens for producing laying hens. A total of four hundred eighty female 2-crossbred chicks that restored strains and were aboriginal at National Institute of Animal Science. There were four crossbreds (4 replications/crossbred, 30 birds/replication) as A) C strain ${\times}$ Y strain, B) C strain ${\times}$ L strain, C) C strain ${\times}$ G strain, and D) C strain ${\times}$ W strain, respectively. There were no significant difference on age at first egg among crossbreds (P>0.05). Egg weight and body weight of B crossbred at first egg was higher than other crossbreds (P<0.05). Body weight of B crossbred was the highest 20 to 72 weeks (P<0.05), and C and D crossbreds were lower compared to A and B crossbreds (P<0.05). Average feed intake of B crossbred was the highest among crossbreds (P<0.05), and that of A crossbred was higher compared to C and D crossbreds (P<0.05). Weekly feed intake of four crossbreds decreased from 50 weeks. Weekly egg weight of B crossbred was the highest and that of D crossbred was the lowest among crossbreds (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of A and B crossbreds was lower than that of C and D crossbreds. Hen-house egg production of C crossbred was the highest among crossbreds until 26 weeks old (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference among crossbreds from at the age of 26 weeks (P>0.05). Hen-day egg production decreased after at the age of 38 weeks. Weekly egg production of A and B crossbreds was higher compared to C and D crossbreds at the age of 68~72 weeks (P<0.05). These results suggested the basic data on the record of laying period of 2-crossbreed Korean Native Chickens for producing laying hens.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.101-110
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• 2021

In this study, we performed a cross-combination test using offspring from two paternal and five maternal parent stock lines to produce a new synthetic breed of Korean native commercial chickens. The survival rate, body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency were measured for 10 crosses, with 837 Hanhyup-3 chickens used as a control. Most chickens had brown-based feathers, and there was little difference in color phenotypes among combinations. The average survival rate of the combinations was 94.9%, which was significantly different from that of Hanhyup-3 at 75.3% (P<0.01). There was significant differences in body weight among the combinations at all weeks of age (P<0.01). At 10 weeks of age, the FHHY combination was the heaviest with 2,300 g, while the weight of Hanhyup-3 was 1,922 g. In addition, the weight difference between the male and female chickens was 458 g. As a result of regression analysis, the duration needed to reach 1.9 kg was about 61 days for the FHFY, FHHY, and HFFY combinations, and 70 days for Hanhyup-3, exhibiting a 9-day difference. The average feed conversion ratio of the combinations until 10 weeks was 2.42, which was significantly different from that of Hanhyup-3 at 2.97 (P<0.01). In conclusion, FHHY, FHFY, and HFFY were determined to be the best new breed combinations based on production capacity. When these combinations are used as new commercial breeds, they are expected to increase the average weight by 18% and improve feed efficiency by 19%, as compared to the existing Hanhyup-3 breed.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2010

A survey of transovarially transmitted diseases, including salmonellosis [(pullorum disease; PD)/(fowl typhoid; FT)], mycoplasmosis, avian infectious anemia (CIA), and fowl adenovirus infection was conducted in the breeder chickens from August to December in 2009. The numbers of flocks sampled out were: Grand Parents Stock (GPS), 45; Parents Stock (PS) 1,018, Baeksemi breeder (BSB) 54. The seroprevalence of salmonellosis (PD/FT) were 0% (GPS), 3.2% (PS), and 3% (BSB), respectively. A total of 983 chicken farms were affected with FT outbreaks between 2000 and 2008. The incidence of FT in commercial broilers, Baeksemi, commercial layers, native chickens, and broiler breeders was 44.3%, 26.2%, 15.7%, 12.6% and 1.08%, respectively. Of the affected broilers, over 90% birds were under 2 weeks of age, indicating it was possible that they were infected with S. gallinarum via vertical transmission. The sero-positive flocks against Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) were 71.1% (GPS), 88.7% (PS), 88.7% (BSB), while the rates of positive flocks against Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) were 86.0% (GPS), 77.0% (PS), and 98.0% (BSB). In GP and parent farms, the detection rates on specific genes of CIA virus were 19/45 (42.2%), and 169/1039 (18.0%), respectively, whereas the seroprevalence of CIA were 86.0% in GPS and 93.7% in PS flocks. In addition, positive flocks of fowl adenoviruses were 4.4% (GPS), 2.7% (PS) and 9.35% (BSB), respectively. As the results, avian mycoplasmosis and CIA have been more prevailing in chicken breeder than avian salmonellosis and fowl adenovirus infection in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

We investigated the effects of breed, laying age, and egg storage period on the vitality of chicks using the Hwanggalsaek Jaeraejong, Korean Rhode Island Red, and Korean White Leghorn chicken breeds. Their eggs were collected during the early laying period (27~29 weeks) and late laying period (50~52 weeks) and were stored for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days. After the eggs hatched, the hatching time, production performance, and organ weight of chicks were investigated. IL-6 gene expression level and relative length of telomeres were analyzed to determine the physiological activity of the chicks. HSP gene expression level and heterophil to lymphocytes ratio were also analyzed to examine the degree of stress response in the chicks. The results showed that breed and laying age influenced the vitality of chicks, but the egg storage period did not. Korean Leghorn chicks were considered the weakest breed in terms of vitality owing to their low survival rate, small heart size, low physiological activity, and high stress response level. Although the survival rate of chicks produced in the early laying period was low, their high physiological activity and low stress response indicated that they had a high vitality than the chicks produced in the late laying period. In conclusion, to obtain chicks with high vitality, it would be desirable to select a high vitality breed and avoid the use of chicks produced in the late laying period.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.69-80
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• 2021

We conducted a 4 × 4 diallel cross-mating test using 934 chickens from four grandparent stock lines to develop a new synthetic breed of Korean native chicken. The mean values, combining ability, and reciprocal effects on survival rate, body weight, and hen-day egg production were analyzed. In phenotypes, most chickens have yellowish-brown, reddish-brown and mixed color feathers. The average survival rate was 86.8±12.3%, with the highest in YH combination. Specific combining ability (SCA) had a greater effect on survival rate than general combining ability (GCA), and the SCA of HY combination was the highest. The 16 cross-combinations were distinctly divided into three weight groups according to their genetic characteristics. At 12 weeks of age, GCA showed a greater effect on weight than SCA, and the SCA of FH combination was the highest. The age at first egg laying was 157 days, and the crosses reached sexual maturity faster than the pure lines. The egg production rate was highest in SY at 79.5±2.1%. The GCA and SCA for hen-day egg production were similar, and the SCA was highest in the HS and FY combinations. The reciprocal effect showed that the offspring's egg production rate was high when S and Y were maternal parents in almost all combinations. In conclusion, FH and HF combinations, which have excellent growth performance, are the most desirable paternal parent stock strains, and FY, FS, HY, and SY combinations, which have excellent laying performance with moderate weight, are the preferred maternal strains.