Abstract

CANET, Z et al. PRODUCTIVE TRAITS AT SEXUAL MATURITY AND DYNAMIC PATTERN OF EGG WEIGHT IN THREE GENETIC GROUPS OF FREE RANGE LAYER. Compend. cienc. vet [online]. 2014, vol.4, n.1, pp.7-12. ISSN 2226-1761.

ABSTRACT. The behavior of five productive traits at sexual maturity jointly with the dynamic pattern of egg weight change with age, as indicators of productive performance, were evaluated in two experimental three-way hybrids of free-range hens (Campero Casilda and Campero Pergamino) and in the reference group (Campero INTA). Although these three genotypes were initially produced to be distributed by the national food security program Pro-Huerta, they are equally suitable for semi-intensive production systems that preserve animal welfare. The three groups may be considered equivalent as potentially alternative genotypes for organic or ecological productive systems in both aspects: their behavior at sexual maturity and their pattern of egg weight change during the laying cycle. With regard to the option proposed by the receptors of the Pro-Huerta Program for using females as layers rather than for meat production jointly with the contemporary males, it should be discouraged as the same Program provides a rustic self-sexing layer well adapted for backyard production with values of the two productive indicators analyzed in this work that exceed those recorded in the three alternatives of free range layers evaluated.

Keywords : sexual maturity; egg weight; mathematical models; experimental hybrids; free-range layers.

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