• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1985

To secure a higher percentage of fertility in hatching eggs and a higher percentage of hatchability of the fertile eggs should be of direct benefit to poultry breeder ana hatchery operators. This study was carried out to estimate the relationships of egg production and fertility in broiler breeder. The data analysed were the record of pullets (5 strains) of broiler breeder raised at Poultry Breeding Farm, Seoul National Univ. from 1982 to 1983. Since the purpose of the study was only to find out the relationships between egg Production and fertility, many other factors thought to be included in fertility were fixed as much as possible. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Mean figure of egg production rate and fertility from 30 weeks age to 60 Weeks of age to 60 weeks of age were 60.5-65.2 percent and 82.7-87.9 percent. 2. Correlation coefficients between egg Production rate and fertility were high and positive, except line K, and the coefficients have highly significant differences. 3. Regression coefficients of fertility on egg Production rate were 0.54-0.97, except line K. 4. Maximum fertility age estimated from the polynomial regression equation were 44-47 weeks. The results obtained in this study suggested that the selection of high performance strain in egg Production should improve the fertility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.291-298
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• 2008

For many years beak trimming has been a controversial subject, particularly since the 1980's when the practice came under close scrutiny by animal welfare groups. In Australia it is considered an essential practice, averting losses of AUD$17.5m annually by reducing mortality from cannibalism. While mortality in flocks from cannibalism can be reduced from 25% of the flock to virtually nil, the beak trimming procedure is considered traumatic for the bird. This study examined if chronic pain in the beak was evident in birds 10, 20 and 60 weeks after being trimmed at hatch and in another group of birds, 8 and 52 weeks after being re-trimmed at 14 weeks. Chronic pain was assessed by measuring pecking behaviour and beak sensitivity responses. Pecking behaviour studies completed after beak trimming and re-trimming showed no evidence to indicate that birds were suffering severe chronic pain in the beak. Beak trimmed pullets pecked more at the cage and had more toe pecks, yet overall pecks made at the feed and the environment were no different than untrimmed controls. While the beak sensitivity studies provided evidence that the beak of birds trimmed at hatch and also re-trimmed at 14 weeks may be more sensitive there was no evidence that re-trimming resulted in a more sensitive beak than birds trimmed at hatch only. These studies have shown that birds which are beak trimmed and re-trimmed return to apparently normal feeding and pecking behaviour in the long term. However, there was limited evidence that beaks of trimmed birds have an altered threshold to potentially painful stimuli.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1782-1788
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• 2003

A mathematical model has been constructed to estimate the amino acid requirements for growing Taihe silky fowls in early stage. A requirement was taken as the sum of the needs for maintenance, for gain in carcass weight without feathers, and for the feathers. The maintenance requirement was considered to be the sum of the needs for replacing skin and intestinal losses and for the obligatory creatinine excretion in the urine. A comparative slaughter trial and nitrogen balance trials with growing and adult Taihe silky fowls, respectively, were conducted to estimate the parameters in the model. The amino acid requirements were then calculated with the constructed models. The results showed as following: the replacement needs for skin nitrogen loss was determined at 213.41 mg/d for adult male fowls (body weight 1.60 kg); creatinine excretion in these birds was 4.04 mg/d. when fed an nitrogen-free diets, the adult male fowls with body weight 1.60 kg excreted a total of 246.10 mg/d endogenous nitrogen. The net protein requirement for maintenance was estimated at $11.24mg/w_g{^{0.75}}/d$Per gram of body weight gain contained 27.18 mg carcass nitrogen for growing birds in early stage, but feathers nitrogen in per gram of body weight gain increased with age. The amino acid requirements for growing Taihe silky fowls were slightly higher than for starting and growing pullets, but lower than that of broiler chicks. The amino acid requirements patterns changed with weeks of age.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.657-664
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• 1997

432 Babcock ISA white leghorn pullets reared for 8 weeks on a standard managemental conditions were exposed to feed/nutrient and light restrictions from 9 to 20 weeks of age. Four feeding regimes i. e. 100, 85 or 70 percent of the recommended allowance and low energy (2,500 Kcal/kg) low protein (13% CP) ration were fed each in the three light regimes i. e. (A) Natural day light starting from 13.24 hr/day at 8 weeks of age and ending 10.41 hr/day at the end of 20 weeks; (B) Constant 11 hr/day light and (C) starting with 13 hr/day at 8 weeks and decreasing @ 20 min/week till 20 weeks of age. At the age of 20 weeks all the birds were shifted to separate cages under uniform lighting feeding and management. During the 21st week light was increased to 12 hr a day and thereafter with an increase of 30 min per week, increased to 16 hr a day at the age of 29 weeks. From 20 weeks onward till 72 week age, all the birds were offered commercial layer rations ad libitum, prepared according to climatic conditions. The results of the study revealed that birds reared under natural and constant light had higher weights than decreasing light, yet they could not out perform during production period. The effect of feed and nutrient restriction, on the other hand, was found significant during rearing as well as production period. The birds exposed to higher level of feed and those exposed to nutrient restriction were lighter in weight. The 100% fed birds laid their first egg at an early age. However, those reared on 85% of the recommendation excelled all other groups in terms of produced number of eggs, egg mass, hen housed and hen day production and net returns.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1980

This study was carried out to investigate reasonable Period of egg production for incubation and to survey the change of sex ratio with the age as the preliminary work to make breed which can produce progeny in controlled sex ratio. The analyzed data was obtained from the record of incubations during 165-262 hys of age in White Leghorn. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. It was appeared that the fertility and hatchability were increased with the egg produced over 7 months of age. 2. It was tendency that the fertility and hatchability of the flock produced a more female chicken (40% flock) were higher than those of flock produced a more male chicken (60% flock). 3. The variation of sex ratio with the age was wider in 60% flock than in 40% flock 4. 60% flock showed heavier egg weight and body weight, in a while, 40% flock better sexual maturity and hen- housed egg production. 5. There was a negative correlation between sex ratio and henhoused egg production in 60% flock, but 40% flock appeared a positive correlation.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.229-233
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• 2003

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of different BW control methods during rearing on laying performance of broiler breeder pullets. D-old 540 female breeder chicks (Arbor Acres) were assigned to three treatments consisted of standard BW (Control), 110% of standard BW at 12 wk of age (T1), and 90% of standard BW at 12 wk of age (T2), with three replicates of 60 birds per replicate (pen) for each treatment. At 20 wk of age, all birds from three treatments reached the BW reqired in the Arbor Acres Manual. There were no significant differences in egg production, egg weight and viability during laying period(p>0.05). However, total egg production rates were improved in T2 and T3. Average egg weight was the highest in T1 among all treatments. Fertility and hatchability were similar among treatments, but T2 tended to be higher than other treatments at 37 and 53 wk of age. No significant difference was found in hatchability among three treatments. The number of hatching egg of T2 reached 168 per year, showing higher number of eggs than did the other treatments. The number of hatched chicks in T2 was 131, which was also higher than the other treatments, but the difference was not significant. It appears that the laying performance of broiler breeder hens could be improved when their BW at 12 wk of age are kept at 90% of standard BW, and reach the standard BW at 20 week of age.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modification of a herbal recipe(Herb $Mix^{(R)}$) on the growth of pullet and laying performance of hens. The formula of Herb $Mix^{(R)}$, a mixture of Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica gigas, Discorea japonica, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Schisandra chinensis and Ligusticum jeholense, was modified in mixing ratio. A total of 1,120 pullets(Hy-Line Brown) of 14 wks old were assigned to seven treatments; control, Herb $Mix^{(R)}$(HM), R. glutinosa fortified HM, A. gigas fortified HM, D. japonica fortified HM, G. uralensis fortified HM, S. chinensis fortified HM, L. jeholense fortified HM and Flavomycin supplemented diet. Each treatment had 8 replicates of 20 birds each housed in 2 birds cages. Body weight at 10% egg production was significantly(P<0.05) influenced by treatments. Birds fed A. gigas fortified HM diet were heaviest followed by L. jeholense fortified HM, HM-original and D. japonica fortified HM, Flavomycin supplemented diet and R. glutinosa while those fed control diet were lightest. Also, age reaching 50% egg production and peak production was earliest in A. gigas fortified HM and latest in the control. Egg production, feed intake, feed conversion and egg weight were significantly influenced by treatments. Significant improvement in egg production and feed intake was shown in A. gigas fortified HM treatment. Feed conversion ratio was lowest in antibiotic(Flavomycin) treatment and egg weight was heaviest in L. jeholense fortified HM treatment. There were no significant differences among treatments in intestinal microflora but cfu of Cl. perfringnes and E. coli tended to be lower in HM treatments than the control. Among the leucocytes of blood, the HM treatments were lower than the control in counts of white blood cell and heterophils. It was concluded that modification of Herb $Mix^{(R)}$ fortifying with A. gigas, D. japonica and L. jeholense significantly influence growth and laying performance of birds.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 1989

This study was conducted to estimate heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations on economic traits in layers. The data analysis were the records of 351 pullets in S. C. W. Leghorn and 326 pullets in R. I. Red from March 1, 1980 to July 31.1981. The results obtained are summarized as follows：1 The average body weights at the first egg, 300 and 500 days of age were 1, 409, 1, 602 and 1, 709g S. C. W. Leghorn, and 1, 965, 2, 305, and 2, 479g in the R. I. Red, respectively. The age at first egg of the S. C. W, Leghorn and R. I. Red were 156 days and 163 days, respectively. The number of egg produced by the S. C. W. Leghorn and R. I. Red to 300 days and 500 days of age were 101.18, 214.39, and 101.05, 214.93, respectively. The egg weight at first egg, 300 and 500 days of age were 41.93, 57.65 and 60.33g in the S. C. W. Leghorn and 41.52, 57.62 and 60.57g in the R. I. Red, respectively. 2. The heritability estimates based on the variance of sire and dam components were 0.402-0.612 and 0.275-0.458 in the S. C. W. Leghorn, 0.309-0.523 and 0.134-0.380 in R. I. Red for body weight； 0.167 and 0.139 in the 5. C. W. Leghorn, 0.169 and 0.095 in the R.1. Red for age at first egg：0.214-0.139 and 0.336-0.341 in S. C. W Leghorn, 0.137-0.259 and 0.024-0.102 in the R. I. Red for number of egg production； 0.537-0.769 and 0.374-0.686 in the S. C. W. Leghorn, 0.519-0.631 and 0.116-0.365 in the R. I. Red for egg weight, respectively. 3. The genetic correlation coefficients of economic traits were as follows： In the S. C. W. Leghorn and R. I. Red , the coefficients between body weights and age at the first egg, 0.328-0.426 and 0.186-0.244：between body weights and number of egg production, -0.666--0.498 and -0.452--0.073：between body weight and egg weight, 0.384-0.774 and 0.126-0.612； between age at first egg and number of egg production, -0.639--0.452 and -0.754--0.320； between age at first egg and egg weight, 0.475-0.705 and 0.021-0.605； between number of egg production and egg weight, -0.623--0.355 and -0.861--0.327, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 1987

A total of 1,440 White Leghorn pullets hatched in summer and winter, aged 20 to 72 weeks were fed 9 rations differing in dietary protein (13, 15 and 17%) and energy (2,500, 2,700 and 2,900 kcal/kg) levels for a period of 52 weeks in order to evaluate the optimum dietary energy and protein levels for laying hens. As metabolizable energy level increased from 2,500 to 2,900 kcal/kg of feed egg production, daily feed and protein intake and egg shell quality decreased, but reverse was true for the daily energy intake, energy requirement and feed cost per kg egg, body weight gain, nutrients utilizability and abdominal fat accumulation, Egg weight, viability and egg yolk Pigmentation were not affected by the dietary energy level. On the other hand, as dietary protein level increased from 13 to 17%, egg production, egg weight, daily protein intake, protein requirement per kg egg and body weight gain icreased, but daily feed and energy intake, feed and energy requirement per kg egg, egg yolk pigmentation and dry matter utilizability decreased, and no significant difference in the feed cost per kg egg, viability and egg shell quality was observed among dietary protein levels. However: the hens fed 15% and 17% Protein diets did not show significant differences in egg production, egg weight and body weight gain. For the entire laying period of 52 weeks, metabolizable energy level of 2,500 kcal/kg of feed and 15% dietary protein level were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2000

This study was conducted to estimate the general production performance, heritabilities, and genetic phenotypic correlations on several economic traits by multiple trait animal model in Korean native chicken. The data were collected from the records of 5,192 pullets produced from 2,029 dams and 250 sires in Daejon Branch, National Livestock Research Institute from April 10. 1994 to February 10. 1997. Body weights of Red Brown (RB), Yellow Brown (YB), Grey Brown (GB) and Black (B) strains were 1,649.9, 1,439.6, 1,455.6 and 1,575.3g at age of 150 days and 1,923.5, 1,689.6, 1,812.4 and 1,924.0g at age of 270 days, respectively. The ranges of coefficient of variation for body weight were 11.52 to 14.02 at age of 150 days and 12.82 to 14.59% at age of 270 days, respectively. The first eggs of RB, YB, GB and B strains were produced at 147.4, 146.5, 151.1 and 152.1 days, respectively and the coefficients of variation were 7.80 to 8.41%. Egg weight at 270 days were 49.7, 47.6, 48.8 and 48.7 g for RB, YB, GB nd B strains, and coefficients of variation were 6.99 to 7.94% . The number of eggs at age of 270days were 75.8, 78.0, 76.7 and 68.8 for RB, YB, GB and B strains, respectively, and coefficient of variations were 23.87 to 29.89%. On heritability estimates in RB, YB, GB and strains body weight were 0.40, 0.10, 0.09 and 0.57 for RB, YB, GB and B strains at age of 150 days, and 0.23, 0.09, 0.38 and 0.24 at age of 270 days were 0.39, 0.47, 0.60 and 0.62, and egg weights at 270 days and age at 1st egg were 0.36, 0.12, 0.38 and 0.26, number of egg production at 270 days were 0.44, 0.36, 0.58 and 0.49, respectively. The genetic correlation coefficients of body weight with the age of first egg, egg weight and number of egg production at 270days were -0.07∼0.67, -0.24∼0.70 and 0.12∼0.41, respectively ; age of first egg with number of egg production at 270days and egg weight were -0.75∼0.91 and 0.34∼0.97 ; and egg weight with number of egg production at 270days were 0.18∼0.68. The phenotypic correlation coefficients of body weight with at age of first egg, egg weight and number of egg production at 270days were -0.01∼0.74, -0.04∼0.72 and 0.25∼0.57 ; age of first egg with number of egg production at 270days and egg weight were 0.26∼0.52 and 0.52∼0.92, respectively ; and egg weight with number of egg production at 270days were 0.34∼0.91.