Comparative Studies on the Reproductive and Productive Traits of New Hampshire and Sombor Crested Chicken Breeds Reared in Semi-Extensive Production System
Research was conducted on New Hampshire (in further text NH) and Sombor Crested (in further text SC) breeds which were kept in semi extensive system. 56 birds of each breed were used (50 females and 6 males) in the experiment. 100 eggs from every chicken breed were used for natural hatching, and remained eggs were sold. From the total number of the naturally incubated eggs, 83 (NH) and 85 (SC) chickens were hatched, and they were used for the study of performance and related parameters.
Eggs and chickens originating from NH breed were statistically significantly heavier (P<0.001; P<0.01) compared with SC breed. Egg shape index and chicken percentage in egg weight were significantly higher at SC (P<0.001; P<0.05) compared to NH breed. Very strong positive correlation was determined between egg weight and chicken weight in both breeds. Very weak negative correlation was determined between egg weight and relative chicken intake in the egg weight. Similarly, between egg shape index and chicken weight, negative correlation coefficient was determined in both breeds. However, between egg shape index and chicken percentage, statistically significant (P<0.001) negative correlation coefficient was determined in NH breed. Significant (P<0.05) positive correlation for the same performances was determined in SC breed
