Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Tarbiat Modares University, Department of Poultry Science

2 Assistant Professor, Bioscience and Agriculture Modeling Research Unit, Department of Poultry Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, 14115-336

3 Tarbiat Modares University

Abstract

The objective of this research was to compare the growth patterns of commercial broiler chickens, native chickens and domestic pigeon raised in Iran. The growth curves and their parameters were estimated by the Richards function. Body weight data of mixed-sex of commercial broiler chickens (n=326000), native chickens (n=244000) and pigeon (n=4000) were used. Birds were fed ad libitum and weighed in alternating periods on their life. The accuracy of the curve fit was high in all species (R2 = 0.996 to 0.970). The y+/A ratios (weight at the inflection point over mature weight), which determine the shape of the growth curve, were 0.358, 0.379 and 0.352 in chickens, native birds and pigeons, respectively. The age at the inflection point confirmed the high early growth of pigeons (t+ = 10.2 d) and chickens
(t+ = 36.6 d). The phenotypic correlations between the inflection parameters t+ and y+ were higher in commercial broiler chicken than native and pigeon. The inflection parameter t+ and y+ were positively associated with the maturing index k in all birds, in this way, the evolutionary aspects are discussed. In practical view, these results could be used to develop the production strategies for native chicken breed and domestic pigeon to positively affect the growth parameters, efficiency as well as conservation of local genetic resources.

Keywords

1. Ahmadi H and Mottaghitalab M (2007) Hyperbolastic Models as a new powerful tool to describe broiler growth kinetics. Poultry Science, 86: 2461-2465.
2. Barbato GF (1992) Divergent selection for exponential rate at 14 or 42 days of age 1 Early responses. Poultry Science, 72: 687-697.
3. Cassandro M, Marchi MD, Penasa M, Rizzi C (2015) Carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of the Padovana chicken breed, a commercial line, and their cross. Italianm Journal of Animal Science, 14: 38-48.
4. Gao CQ, Yang JX, Chen MX, Yan HC and Wang XQ (2016) Growth curves and agerelated changes in carcass characteristics, organs, serum parameters, and intestinal transporter gene expression in domestic pigeon (Columba livia). Poultry Science, 95: 867-877.
5. Goonewardene LA, Wang Z, Okine E, Zuidhof MJ, Dunk E and Onderka D (2003) Comparative Growth Characteristics of Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Poultry Science, 12: 27-31.
6. Grimaud Freres Selection (2010) Presentation Manual euro-pigeon Livestock.
7. Hyankova LH, Knizetova L, Dedkova, and Hort J (2001) Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 1. Responses in growth parameters and food conversion. British Poultry Science, 42(5): 583-589.
8. Knizetova H, Hyanek J, Hyankova L and Belicek P (1995) Comparative study of growth curves in Poultry Genetic Selection Evolution, 27: 365-375.
9. McCrea B A, Mills AF, Matthews K and Huston J (2014) Performance and carcass characteristics of Delaware chickens in comparison with broilers. Poultry Science, 23: 586-592.
10. Nahashon S N, Aggrey S E, Adefope N and Amenyenu A (2006) Modeling Growth Characteristics of Meat-Type Guinea Fowl. Poultry Science, 85: 943-946.
11. Osei-Amponsah R, Kayang B, Naazie A, Arthur PF and Barchia M. (2011) Characterisation of
local Ghanaian chickens: growth performance evaluation based on Richards growth model and genetic size scaling. Animal Health Production, 43: 1195-1201.
12. Richards FJ (1959) A flexible growth function for empirical use. Journal of Experimental Botany, 10: 290-300.
13. Rizzi C, Contiero B and Cassandero M (2013) Growth patterns of Italian local chicken populations. Poultry Science, 92: 2226-2235.
14. Roush WB, Dozier III WA and Branton SL (2006) Comparison of Gompertz and neural network models of broiler chickens, Poultry Science, 85: 794-797.
15. Sales J, Janssens GPJ (2003) Nutrition of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica). World’s Poultry Science, 59: 221-232.
16. SAS Institute Inc (2017) SAS/STAT User’s Guide. Version 9.2. SAS Institute Inc. Cary NC.
17. Selvaggi M, Laudadio V, Dario C and Tufarelli V (2015) Modelling Growth Curves in a Nondescript Italian Chicken Breed: an Opportunity to Improve Genetic and Feeding Strategies. Japan Poultry Science, 52: 288-294.
18. Shalev A, Pasternak H (1989) Meat production efficiencies of turkey, chicken and duck broilers. World Poultry Science, 45: 109-114.
19. Yang Y, Mekki1 DM, Lv SJ, Wang LY, Yu JH and Wang JY (2006) Analysis of fitting growth models in Jinghai Mixed-Sex Yellow chicken. Asian Journal Poultry Science, 6: 517-521.