The relationship between growth traits and egg weight in Pheasants (P. colchicus)

Abstract

The research was conducted to determine relationship between growth traits and egg weight in Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). Pheasant eggs were separated into 3 weight groups. The eggs were classified as light (27.8-29.7g), medium (29.8-31.7g), heavy (31.8- 33.7g) weight. Eggs were incubated at 36.5 °C and 90 % relative humidity for 21 days during at which they were rotated hourly at an angle of 45°. Thereafter; these eggs were transferred into hatching machine during the last three days. A temperature of 36.0°C and relative humidity of 95 % were provided for the eggs at hatching period. Chicks at hatching were placed in separated pens as male and female mixed for each egg weight group. The effect of egg weight on chick weight at hatching, mean live weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were found significant (P<0.01). The effect of egg weight on mortality was not significant. The chick weight at hatching in light, medium and heavy egg groups were determined as 19.5, 21.8 and 22.6 g, respectively. In the egg weight X sex groups the mean live weights were determined as 940.2, 1020.5, 1091.2 g for males and 705.6, 739. 4, 778.6 g for females, respectively at 16th wks of age. In the groups the mean feed consumption and feed efficiency were found 4200.6, 4600.8, 5080.1 g and 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 kg, respectively, at 16th wks of age mixed male and female pheasant.