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The Relation of Body Weight of Turkey Hens to Egg Production, Egg Weight, Percentage of Hatch and Viability of Poults
T h e Relation of Body Weight of Turkey Hens to Egg Production, Egg Weight, Percentage of Hatch and Viability of Poults (Received for publication July 13,1949)
Is the Size of Turkey Hens Related to Hatchability? DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
Correlation coefficients (Table 5) calculated for the 1947 data show a negative relationship between body size and percentage of hatch of all eggs and a positive correlation between body size and egg weight. From these same data it may be concluded that egg size increases with body
" D ECORDS being available for Missouri •*• *• as collected under the National Turkey Improvement Plan, an analysis of these records has been made for the years 1947 and 1948 for the Bronze and White Holland varieties trapnested for the U.S.R.O.M. breeding stage.
TABLE 1.—Relation of body weight of Bronze turkey breeding hens and egg production, egg -weight, hatchability and viability of poults, 1947 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens 8-Weeks Egg Production Egg Weight (ounce per doz.) Percentage of Hatch Viability to 8 Weeks of Age (%)
17.0-18.9 6 37.2 37.0 77.5 76.2
19.0-19.9
20.0-20.9
21.0-21.9
22.0+
22
20
22
13
34.0 36.7 80.8 75.2
35.5 39.5 79.2 76.0
36.2 39.0 70.6 69.2
33.2 39.1 71.5 69.9
Tables 1, 2 and Figure 1 show that body weight but that egg production and viaweight of Bronze turkey hens was related bility are not related to body weight. A to the percentage of hatch of all eggs set; number of investigators (Marble and in that eggs laid by the largest hens tended Margolf, 1936; Scott, 1937; Byerly and to hatch poorly, whereas eggs laid by the Marsden, 1938; and Insko, MacLaury and smaller hens hatched best. It is recognized Baute, 1943) have shown that medium that small numbers of hens are involved sized turkey eggs hatch better than either but the relationship is so consistent that large or small eggs. In the records reported here egg size is the average of a it is evidently real. sample of at least ten eggs laid by each hen and the individual eggs are not classiContribution from the Department of Poultry fied for hatchability as in the above Husbandry, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Stamentioned studies. tion. Journal Series No. 1158. 64
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015
E. M. FUNK
Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
65
BODY WEIGHT AND REPRODUCTION IN TURKEYS TABL^2.-+The relation of body weight of Bronze turkey breeding hens to egg production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability of poults, 1948 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens
22.0+
17.0-17.9 18.0-18.9 19.0-19.9 20.0-20.9 21.0-21.9 5
14
21
23
13
9
37.2
38.9
32.2
35.7
30.7
32.3
Egg Weight (ounces per dozen)
39.8
39.1
38.5
38.8
41.1
40.3
Percentage of Hatch
84.3
75.5
70.8
58.4
58.3
45.5
Viability of Poults (%)
80.3
83.0
85.6
74.1
85.7
77.7
TABLE 3.—Relation of body weight of White Holland turkey hens and egg production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability, 1947 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens 8-Weeks Egg Production Egg Weight (ounces per dozen) Hatchability Viability to 8 Weeks of Age (%)
12.0-13.9 14.0-14.9 15.0-15.9 16.0-16.9 17.0-17.9 18.0-19.9 15
22
30
24
16
10
32.9 34.9 70.0 84.5
32.9 34.7 73.0 88.2
34.0 36.0 72.7 89.1
31.6 35.8 62.5 91.3
33.8 36.0 67.4 94.5
32.2 35.3 61.8 84.7
TASixA^-The relation of body weight of White Holland turkey breeding hens to < production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability of poults, 1948 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens
13.0-13.9
14.0-14.9
15.0-15.9
16.0-16.9
17.0+
6
25
41
26
15
Egg Production in 8 weeks
33.3 *
35.0
33.8
35.0
31.7
Egg Weight (ounces per dozen)
33.3
33.6
34.8
34.8
36.1
Percentage of Hatch
76.3
73.0
69.8
69.4
66.9
Viability of Poults (%)
93.3
90.5
93.8
90.7
85.7
TABLE 5.—Correlation (r) of body weight, egg production, egg weight, hatchability and viability in turkeys, 1947 83 Bronze Hens Xi—Body weight and Xi 8 weeks egg production X% Egg weight Xi Percentage hatch of all eggs Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of Xi—eight weeks eggs production and X% Egg weight Xt Percentage hatch of all eggs Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of Xs—Egg weight and Xi Percentage hatch of all eggs Xt Percentage viability to 8 weeks of X 6 —Percentage hatch of all aggs and Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of
117 White Holland Hens
age
.08 .13 .21* .16
.009 .22* .22* .15
age
.01 .18 .16
.03 .04 .13
age
.14 .02
.14 .23*
age
.15
.08
* These coefficients exceed the 5 % level and are considered statistically significant.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015
Egg Production in 8 weeks
66
E. M. FUNK 42p
o •" S
o
36
4038
1
x
1
M
34\
y
/
y Egg Production
Egg Production
\
\
32
X
*
^ Egg Weight
a. 2 32 30100
Hatch of oil eggs J
IJ8|
191
90
Viability
80
Body Weight libs.)
FIG. 1. The relation of body weight of Bronze female turkeys to egg weight, egg production, viability and hatching results.
70 Hatch of all eggs
60.
Tables 3 and 4 and Figure 2 show that body weight in White Holland hens is also related to hatching results, even though the birds are considerably smaller than the Bronze (15.7 lbs. as compared to 20.4 for their average weights). Though the differences are not as great as in the case of the Bronze, hatchability declined as body size increased. The larger birds tend to lay larger eggs but as in the case of the Bronze, egg production and viability do not appear to be related to body weight of White Holland turkeys.
13
14 Body
_l_
15 Weight
16
17
18
(lbs.)
FIG. 2. The relation of body weight of White Holland female turkeys to egg weight, egg production, viability and hatching results.
appear to be related to body size in these strains. The challenge presented to the breeder is to breed the most desirable market strain as to size and have it also possess high hatchability. These two qualities may not be incompatible if attacked in a scientific manner. REFERENCES
SUMMARY
From the data available it is evident that in both Bronze and White Holland turkeys large body size (weight) is related to lower percentages of hatch of all eggs set. The smaller birds produce eggs which hatch best. Larger birds tend to produce larger eggs than smaller birds. Egg production and viability of poults do not
Byerly, T. C. and S. J. Marsden, 1938. Weight and hatchability of turkey eggs. Poultry Sci. 17: 298300 Insko, W. M., D. W. MacLaury and E. A. Baute, 1943. Weight of turkey eggs in relation to hatch-. ability. Ky. Agri. Expt. Sta., Bui. 449. Marble, D. R. and P. H. Margolf, 1936. The selection and management of turkey breeders. Poultry Sci. 15:225-229. Scott, H. M., 1937. Turkey production in Kansas. Kan, Agri. Expt. Sta., Bui. 276.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015
Is the Size of Turkey Hens Related to Hatchability? DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
Correlation coefficients (Table 5) calculated for the 1947 data show a negative relationship between body size and percentage of hatch of all eggs and a positive correlation between body size and egg weight. From these same data it may be concluded that egg size increases with body
" D ECORDS being available for Missouri •*• *• as collected under the National Turkey Improvement Plan, an analysis of these records has been made for the years 1947 and 1948 for the Bronze and White Holland varieties trapnested for the U.S.R.O.M. breeding stage.
TABLE 1.—Relation of body weight of Bronze turkey breeding hens and egg production, egg -weight, hatchability and viability of poults, 1947 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens 8-Weeks Egg Production Egg Weight (ounce per doz.) Percentage of Hatch Viability to 8 Weeks of Age (%)
17.0-18.9 6 37.2 37.0 77.5 76.2
19.0-19.9
20.0-20.9
21.0-21.9
22.0+
22
20
22
13
34.0 36.7 80.8 75.2
35.5 39.5 79.2 76.0
36.2 39.0 70.6 69.2
33.2 39.1 71.5 69.9
Tables 1, 2 and Figure 1 show that body weight but that egg production and viaweight of Bronze turkey hens was related bility are not related to body weight. A to the percentage of hatch of all eggs set; number of investigators (Marble and in that eggs laid by the largest hens tended Margolf, 1936; Scott, 1937; Byerly and to hatch poorly, whereas eggs laid by the Marsden, 1938; and Insko, MacLaury and smaller hens hatched best. It is recognized Baute, 1943) have shown that medium that small numbers of hens are involved sized turkey eggs hatch better than either but the relationship is so consistent that large or small eggs. In the records reported here egg size is the average of a it is evidently real. sample of at least ten eggs laid by each hen and the individual eggs are not classiContribution from the Department of Poultry fied for hatchability as in the above Husbandry, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Stamentioned studies. tion. Journal Series No. 1158. 64
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015
E. M. FUNK
Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
65
BODY WEIGHT AND REPRODUCTION IN TURKEYS TABL^2.-+The relation of body weight of Bronze turkey breeding hens to egg production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability of poults, 1948 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens
22.0+
17.0-17.9 18.0-18.9 19.0-19.9 20.0-20.9 21.0-21.9 5
14
21
23
13
9
37.2
38.9
32.2
35.7
30.7
32.3
Egg Weight (ounces per dozen)
39.8
39.1
38.5
38.8
41.1
40.3
Percentage of Hatch
84.3
75.5
70.8
58.4
58.3
45.5
Viability of Poults (%)
80.3
83.0
85.6
74.1
85.7
77.7
TABLE 3.—Relation of body weight of White Holland turkey hens and egg production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability, 1947 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens 8-Weeks Egg Production Egg Weight (ounces per dozen) Hatchability Viability to 8 Weeks of Age (%)
12.0-13.9 14.0-14.9 15.0-15.9 16.0-16.9 17.0-17.9 18.0-19.9 15
22
30
24
16
10
32.9 34.9 70.0 84.5
32.9 34.7 73.0 88.2
34.0 36.0 72.7 89.1
31.6 35.8 62.5 91.3
33.8 36.0 67.4 94.5
32.2 35.3 61.8 84.7
TASixA^-The relation of body weight of White Holland turkey breeding hens to < production, egg weight, percentage of hatch and viability of poults, 1948 Body Weight (lbs.) Number of Hens
13.0-13.9
14.0-14.9
15.0-15.9
16.0-16.9
17.0+
6
25
41
26
15
Egg Production in 8 weeks
33.3 *
35.0
33.8
35.0
31.7
Egg Weight (ounces per dozen)
33.3
33.6
34.8
34.8
36.1
Percentage of Hatch
76.3
73.0
69.8
69.4
66.9
Viability of Poults (%)
93.3
90.5
93.8
90.7
85.7
TABLE 5.—Correlation (r) of body weight, egg production, egg weight, hatchability and viability in turkeys, 1947 83 Bronze Hens Xi—Body weight and Xi 8 weeks egg production X% Egg weight Xi Percentage hatch of all eggs Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of Xi—eight weeks eggs production and X% Egg weight Xt Percentage hatch of all eggs Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of Xs—Egg weight and Xi Percentage hatch of all eggs Xt Percentage viability to 8 weeks of X 6 —Percentage hatch of all aggs and Xe Percentage viability to 8 weeks of
117 White Holland Hens
age
.08 .13 .21* .16
.009 .22* .22* .15
age
.01 .18 .16
.03 .04 .13
age
.14 .02
.14 .23*
age
.15
.08
* These coefficients exceed the 5 % level and are considered statistically significant.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015
Egg Production in 8 weeks
66
E. M. FUNK 42p
o •" S
o
36
4038
1
x
1
M
34\
y
/
y Egg Production
Egg Production
\
\
32
X
*
^ Egg Weight
a. 2 32 30100
Hatch of oil eggs J
IJ8|
191
90
Viability
80
Body Weight libs.)
FIG. 1. The relation of body weight of Bronze female turkeys to egg weight, egg production, viability and hatching results.
70 Hatch of all eggs
60.
Tables 3 and 4 and Figure 2 show that body weight in White Holland hens is also related to hatching results, even though the birds are considerably smaller than the Bronze (15.7 lbs. as compared to 20.4 for their average weights). Though the differences are not as great as in the case of the Bronze, hatchability declined as body size increased. The larger birds tend to lay larger eggs but as in the case of the Bronze, egg production and viability do not appear to be related to body weight of White Holland turkeys.
13
14 Body
_l_
15 Weight
16
17
18
(lbs.)
FIG. 2. The relation of body weight of White Holland female turkeys to egg weight, egg production, viability and hatching results.
appear to be related to body size in these strains. The challenge presented to the breeder is to breed the most desirable market strain as to size and have it also possess high hatchability. These two qualities may not be incompatible if attacked in a scientific manner. REFERENCES
SUMMARY
From the data available it is evident that in both Bronze and White Holland turkeys large body size (weight) is related to lower percentages of hatch of all eggs set. The smaller birds produce eggs which hatch best. Larger birds tend to produce larger eggs than smaller birds. Egg production and viability of poults do not
Byerly, T. C. and S. J. Marsden, 1938. Weight and hatchability of turkey eggs. Poultry Sci. 17: 298300 Insko, W. M., D. W. MacLaury and E. A. Baute, 1943. Weight of turkey eggs in relation to hatch-. ability. Ky. Agri. Expt. Sta., Bui. 449. Marble, D. R. and P. H. Margolf, 1936. The selection and management of turkey breeders. Poultry Sci. 15:225-229. Scott, H. M., 1937. Turkey production in Kansas. Kan, Agri. Expt. Sta., Bui. 276.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Purdue University Libraries ADMN on June 23, 2015