LAYING CHARACTERISTICS AND EGG GEOMETRY OF FOUR VARIETIES OF INDIGENOUS ASEEL CHICKEN IN PAKISTAN Authors: A. Iqbal, M. Akram, A. W. Sahota, K. Javed, J. Hussain, Z. Sarfraz, S. Mehmood Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences (JAPS) ISSN: 1018-7081 (Print), 2309-8694 (Online) Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Pages: 848-852 Year: 2012 DOI: NA URL: https://doi.org/NA Publisher: Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum Abstract:

Aseel is an important and historic breed of chicken with many varieties and strains found in Pakistan. A four week study was conducted to assess the laying characteristics and egg geometry of four varieties (Lakha, Peshawari, Mushki and Mianwali) of Aseel chicken. Data from ten hens of each variety were recorded for feed intake, egg number, egg weight (g), clutch size (days),  egg length (cm), egg width (cm), egg shape index (%), egg surface area (cm2) and egg volume (cm3) and analyzed through one way ANOVA. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was applied to compare the means. Significant differences were observed in feed intake during 3rd week (P<0.01) and 4th week (P<0.05) and egg number during 1st week of the study (P<0.01) while non-significant differences were observed in all other parameters studied. On an overall basis, the Aseel chickens consumed 71.7±13.8 g of feed per day and produced 2.8±1.0 eggs per clutch. The eggs were 43.1±3.0 g weight, 5.10±0.12 cm long, 3.87±0.10 cm wide, had a shape index of 75.85±2.13, volume of 39.04±2.93 cm3 and surface area of 57.78±2.87 cm2. More detailed and long term studies should be conducted on these varieties of Aseel chicken to gather detailed baseline information about these varieties.

Keywords: Egg Parameters, Native chicken, Backyard poultry, Genetic resources.