RT Journal T1 INFLUENCE OF EGG WEIGHT ON EGG QUALITY PARAMETERS AND GROWTH TRAITS IN RING NECKED PHEASANTS (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS) IN CAPTIVITY A1 S. Ashraf A1 A. Javid A1 M. Ashraf A1 M. Akram A1 S. Malik A1 Irfan A1 M. Altaf JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences JO JAPS SN 1018-7081 VO 26 IS 2 SP 331 OP 338 YR 2016 FD 2016/04/01 DO DOI NA AB

To study the influence of egg weight on internal and external quality egg parameters and biometrical traits of hatched chicks, a total of 450 eggs of ring necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicums) were collected. These eggs were weighed and classified as light (20.0-26.0g), medium (27.0-32.0g) and heavy (33.0-40.0g) egg weight categories. Egg length, breadth, egg volume and surface area varied significantly (P<0.05) between all the three egg weight categories. Out of total 450 eggs, 150 eggs (50 from each of the egg weight category) were selected for the evaluation of internal egg quality parameters. Significantly higher albumen and yolk weight were recorded in heavy weight egg category while non-significant influence of egg weight was observed on shell and membrane thickness, yolk percentage, yolk index, yolk pH and albumen pH of the egg. Out of the remaining 300 eggs kept in the incubator, 142 hatched successfully. Forty chicks from each of the egg weight category were selected and chick weight, wing length and wingspan were taken at the time of hatching and thereafter increase in these parameters were noted on weekly basis. The effect of egg weight on chick weight, live weight gain, wing length and wingspan was significant (P<0.05). Our studies revealed that egg weight has strong influence on external and internal characteristics of the eggs and the growth parameters in P. colchicus chicks.

K1 Galliformes, Egg geometry, Haugh unit, Chick weight, Wingspan PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=2016-JAPS-45