Characterization of genetic resource in chicken of Oravka breed

Abstract

Growth and some reproduction traits (fertilization, hatchability and egg weight) of Oravka breed were measured in two chicken lines (OR2 and OR3). The in situ conservation flock kept in Animal Production Research Centre Nitra (APRC Nitra) during the period between 2009 and 2012 was included in the experiment. During each season the breeding males not from the APRC Nitra flock were used. The breeding females originated from the mating between females raised in the APRC Nitra and those new males. The weight at age of 5, 12 and 20 weeks was monitored. The average weights of OR2 were ranged from 371.3 ± 68.9 g to 538.1 ± 79.4 g at 5 weeks, from 1246.1 ± 254.0 g to 1464.5 ± 242.2 g at 12 weeks and from 2076.3 ± 381.8 g to 2286.1 ± 535.4 g at 20 weeks of age. The fertilization rate for each line and season was higher than 84 % except for OR2 line in the season 2011/2012. The hatchability from fertilized eggs was higher than 80 % except for OR2 line in the season 2011/2012. The average weights of eggs in the middle of laying period (from March to May) were ranged from 53.9 ± 3.5 g to 56.6 ± 4.3 g for OR2 and from 52.9 ± 4.5 g to 56.4 ± 3.6 g for OR3 during the whole experiment.