Comparative performance of pure bred dwarf, cross bred dwarf and normal broiler dam line for commercial broiler production

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of commercial broilers produced by crossing synthetic coloured broiler male line males with synthetic colored broiler female line, pure bred dwarf and cross bred dwarf females. These three crosses were produced in a single hatch and were reared under uniform managemental conditions. The body weights were recorded at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of age. Slaughter parameters were recorded at 6 weeks of age. Primary and secondary humoral response to SRBC at 5 days post inoculation (log2) was recorded in these three genetic groups at 14th, 28th and 35th days of age. Duncan Multiple Range Test was used to find the significant differences among crosses. It was observed that the body weight at 0, 7th, 14th 21st and 28th day were significantly heavier in the commercial broiler developed utilizing normal broiler dam line (PB-2). However, no significant difference in body weight could be observed at 35th and 42nd day of age when normal or pure bred dwarf dam line was used. When cross bred dwarf dams were used the commercial broilers developed were significantly lighter in weight at 0, 28 and 35 days of age as compared to purebred dwarf dams and normal dams for development of commercial crosses. Slaughter parameters showed no significant difference between the crosses except for giblet weight in the commercial progeny produced from normal broiler dam line. No significant difference in humoral immune response to SRBC could be observed between different genetic groups at different ages. However, when normal or cross bred dwarf dam were used significant difference could be observed at 28th day. These results suggest the usefulness of dwarf dams for production of commercial crosses without affecting the body weight and dressing yields.