Effect of Cage and Floor Rearing System on the Reproductive Performance and Immunocystochemistry of Pituitary Cells of Broiler Breeders
Effect of Cage and Floor Rearing System on the Reproductive Performance and Immunocystochemistry of Pituitary Cells of Broiler Breeders
Waqas Alam1, Sar Zamin Khan1 and Rifat Ullah Khan2*
ABSTRACT
A total of 200 broiler breeders (22 weeks old) having uniform body weight were selected and randomly distributed into cage (60.96 × 60.96 × 53.34 cm) and floor housing systems having 90 females and 10 males. Each group was subdivided into three replicates (30/replicate female). Hubbard management guideline was followed for feeding, watering, and vaccination. Egg quality parameters were evaluated at pre-peak (22-30 weeks), peak (31-40 weeks) and post-peak (41-59 weeks) production stages. Compare to floor housing system, age of hen at first lay and mortality were lower (P ≤ 0.05) in cage housed birds. Egg production percentage and feed efficiency were significantly (P<0.05) higher in cage birds compared to the floor. Fertility and hatchability percentage were lower (P<0.05) in pre-peak stage and then increased during peak and post-peak stages. There was no significant effect of the housing system on the immunocytochemistry of the cells of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutenizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH). The results of the present study indicated that birds kept under cage had enhanced egg production, fertility, hatchability and lower mortality than the birds managed on floor.
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