Abstract
The performance and mortality of similarly managed parent flocks of Hybro Normal and Hybro Giant meat poultry was compared. The overall daily egg production at 6-9 months of age was insignificantly greater in the Hybro Normal compared to the Hybro Giant parents (p > 0.05). The Hybro Normal parents had a significantly higher average daily egg production (56.08%) compared to that of the Hybro Giant parents (52.03%) during their sixth month of age, one month before the production peak (p < 0.05). The Hydro Giant parent-males had a significantly higher average daily mortality during the sixth and seventh months of age compared to the parent males of the Hybro Normal breed (p < 0.05); however, the females of the Hybro Normal parents had a significantly higher daily mortality during the sixth month of age compared to the Hybro Giant parent females (p < 0.05). The percentage hatchability was significantly lower in eggs collected from Hybro Giant birds compared to those collected from the Hybro Normal birds during the sixth and ninth months of age. The mean live weights at 45-days old of five flocks of Hybro Normal offspring was 1535 g compared to a mean live weight of 1870 g of five similarly managed flocks of the offspring of the Hybro Giant birds (p < 0.05). The feed conversion by the offspring of both breeds was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The mean percentage lameness in the five flocks of the offspring was 2.34% for Hybro Normal and 9.26% for Hybro Giant (p < 0.05). In summary, the overall performance of the Hybro Normal parent stock was superior to the Hybro Giant breeders regarding egg production and hatchability of their eggs; however, the weight gain of the Hybro Giant broiler flocks was superior to that of the Hybro Normal, but this was associated with a higher incidence of lameness.