The relations between body conformation, hatch results and chick quality in parents of partridges (Alectoris chukar)

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between body conformation, egg quality, hatching and chick quality characteristics of partridges reared in production conditions (cage system) depending on three different egg production periods. The study was based on three periods. The first period is the period before peak egg production (˂200 eggs), the second period is the peak egg production period (˃200 eggs) and the third period is the post-peak egg production period (˂200 eggs). These periods also represent age. The study was evaluated according to the completely randomized experimental design. Data with two levels were analysed using binomial logit-link function and those with more than two levels were analysed using multinomial logit-link function and Generalised Linear Model procedure. In parent partridges, footpad dermatitis (FPD) and hock burn were better determined in the pre-peak egg production period than in the peak egg production period and post-peak egg production period. There were changes in body conformation depending on egg production periods. FPD and elbow blight worsened with increasing age. Parent partridges had better head, neck, back, breast and tail feather scores in the pre-peak egg production period. Egg weight increased depending on the periods. Hatching egg characteristics such as excessively pointed, calcium deposited eggs increased in peak and post-peak periods. Hatchability was lower in the post-peak egg production period. Tona score showed a decrease depending on the periods. There were weak negative and positive phenotypic correlations between many traits. The results of the study show that we should periodically improve egg production and hatching activities in partridges.