Study of laying parent stock performance in East Azerbaijan province

This study was conducted to survey a laying parent stock performance and egg quality traits. A laying parent stock unit was selected at the age of 52 wk and data including hen and cockerel number, mortality percent, hen to cockerel ratio, egg production percent (hen day and hen housed production), non- settable egg number and settable egg (%) were recorded daily up to 72 wk of age before beginning of molting. For calculating hatchability (%), the data were obtained from hatchery unit. The collected data were divided to 6 experimental periods (28 days/period). At beginning of the study, the number of hen and cockerel were 30013 and 4144, respectively. The hen to cockerel ratio was 14. The percent of hen and cockerel mortality at experimental periods were 0.033 and 0.022, respectively. Hen day egg production (%) was lowered as compared to the recommended data in parent stock management guide (5.55 %). Generally, the analysis of the data showed that with increasing experimental periods (or the age of birds), the non-settable and settable egg numbers were increased and decreased, respectively. The settable egg (%) was significantly different from the recommended data in parent stock management guide. With increasing experimental periods, the hatchability was deceased. The hatchability (%) of this farm was lowered as compared to recommended data in parent stock management guide. The analyzing of concerned production traits of this farm revealed that production and nutritional management need more attention in this laying parent stock unit.