The effects of different housing systems on the egg production, hatchability and egg quality in rock partridges

THE EFFECTS OF DİFFERENT HOUSING SYSTEMS ON THE EGGPRODUCTION, HATCHABILITY AND EGG QUALITY IN ROCK PARTRIDGESMehmet Hanifi AYSÖNDÜABSTRACTThis study was carried out to determine the effects of intensive cage and flock systemconditions on the egg production, hatchability and egg quality characteristics in rockpartridges.Twenty-six male and 78 female partridges were used as 1 male to 3 female. In thefirst group, 13 male and 39 female adult rock partridges were mated in cages. In the secondgroup, 13 male and 39 female adult rock partridges were mated in flock. The artificialphotoperiod was about 16 hours per day. Birds were fed ad libitum.Average of egg production, a percentage of egg production, egg weight, fertility,hatchability and hatchability of fertilized eggs of flock and cage rock partridges groups weredetermined as; 49.43 and 49.35, 39.87 % and 39.79 %, 20.57 g and 20.60 g, 72.55 % and90.25 %, 67.09 % and 78.09 % and 92.48 % and 86.64 %, respectively.There were significant differences between groups in respects of fertility (P<0.001),hatchability (P<0.01) and hatchability of fertilized eggs (P<0.05). But there were nosignificant differences between groups in respects of egg production, egg weight and eggproduction percentage (P>0.05).Average egg weight (g), shape index, yolk index, albumen index, shell thickness(mm), shell weight (g), yolk weight (g), albumen weight (g), yolk color and Haugh Unite foregg quality characteristics of flock and cage rock partridges groups were determined as; 22.33and 22.03 (P>0.05), 75.13 and 74.22 (P>0.05), 47.22 and 46.70 (P>0.05), 7.55 and 7.31(P>0.05), 0.31 and 0.30 (P>0.05), 3.13 and 1.99 (P<0.05), 7.85 and 7.74 (P>0.05), 11.35 and11.29 (P>0.05), 10.16 and 9.53 (P>0.05) and 91.10 and 89.59 (P>0.05), respectively.As a result cage system is better than flock system at the fertility and hatchability.But flock system is better than cage system in respect of hatchability of fertilized eggs.Key words: Partridge, egg production, hatchability, egg quality characteristics