Egg production modeling in heavy broiler breeder hens

• Grant number: 14/25091-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Nilva Kazue Sakomura
• Grantee: Letícia Graziele Pacheco
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/25761-4 - Modeling production and nutritional requirements of poultry and fish, AP.TEM

Abstract

The objective of this trial will be to evaluate a model to predict egg production of broiler breeder hens. It will be used 60 birds from the beginning of the laying phase, at 23 weeks of age, until 60 weeks. To a better control, the birds will be allocated individually in cages. The feed supply will be controlled and calculated based on body weight of each individual, weekly. Will be evaluated the egg production (%), egg weight (g), the proportion of egg components: yolk, albumen and shell. The egg production prediction model will be determined according to the laying rate and egg components in function of the age of the bird after the first egg. Allometric functions no-isometric will be applied to predict the albumen and egg shell weight from yolk weight. The egg weight will be obtained by the sum of the three components.