Analysis of Reproductive Potential and Hatchability of Naked Neck and Normal Hens

Abstract

The difference between a feather conditions, namely naked neck and normal feathered in chicken gives the qualitatively genetic differences by Na gene and its allele na. This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between the condition of the feather and of reproductive potential. Five males of Naked neck, each paired with four females of Naked neck and two females of Normal. Production of eggs from each female were collected and then incubated, to studies the reproductive potential through egg fertility and hatchability. Completely randomized designs by the variance analysis were used to determine the effects of the feather conditions, and the hierarchical analysis of variance was to determine of the genetic potential. The results showed that the feather conditions did not signi cantly affect the egg production. The fertility of naked neck chicken (95.72±03.88%) was signi cantly higher (P<0.05) than normal chicken (92.67±10.61%) and the hatchability of naked neck chicken (73.69±21.69%) was signi cantly lower (P<0.05) than normal chicken (83.76±04.84 %). Embryo mortality of naked neck chicken (19.85±11.04%) was signi cantly higher (P<0.05) than normal chickens (17.97±11.50%). Eggs weight and doc weight did not show a signi cant difference. Heritability of egg weight in chickens was low (h2 = 0.07), and the repeatability (R = 0.69) was quite high. The heritability of doc was underestimated (h2 = -0.19), although the repeatability was still high (R = 0.59).