INFLUENCE OF METHIONINE AND LYSINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY IN WEANED RABBITS FED GRADED LEVELS OF SWEET POTATO VINES

A study was carried out to evaluate reproductive performance under a short term selection programme in two lines of Napri-X broilers under selection for three generations. Traits considered were {egg set, number fertile (NFERT), number hatch (NHAT), number dead in shell (NDD), percent fertility (PFERT), percent hatch (PHAT) and percent hatchability (PHATY)}. The lines (Sire line and Dam line) were developed respectively through selective breeding for body weight at eight weeks (BWT 8 ) in a pedigreed foundation stock of broilers. Mating ratio was 1 cock: 6 hens within families and across lines. Selection was carried out from base to the third generation. Eggs for the study were appropriately marked and hatched in individual hatching compartments to prevent crossing of the chicks at break-out. Data on reproductive traits were recorded for seven hatches for each of the lines. Percent fertility, percent hatch and percent hatchability were calculated. Fertility and hatchability percentages were transformed to arcsin ! % and analyzed according to Student’s t-test and the trend of the results represented in charts. All measured variables (egg set, number fertile, number hatched and number dead in shell) and reproductive indices (percent fertility, percent hatchability and percent fertile) were significantly (P<0.01) different between the two lines. Sire line recorded a decreasing trend with an estimate of 15.57(egg set), 14.46 (number fertile), 11.46 (number hatch) and 2.86 (number dead in shell). Egg set (10.45, 11.85, 11.69 and 7.14), number fertile (9.47, 10.46, 9.65 and 5.25), number hatch (7.34, 5.66, 6.81 and 3.25) and number dead in shell (4.86, 5.23, 7.14 and 7.38) were the averages for sire and dam selected and control lines. Sire and dam lines selected and control recorded values of 89.16, 89.46, 83.06 and 76.58% (percent fertility), percent hatch (70.88, 53.52, 59.24 and 50.39%) and percent hatchability (80.27, 59.08, 71.32 and 64.12%), respectively.  This implies that traits under selection were highly variable Due to the significant effect of lines and generation on reproductive traits, these factors should be taken into consideration for selection purposes.