Producing a commercial egg type breed of chickens (Apri golden) [electronic resouce].

Includes references.

Egyptian poultry industry, since 1986 and thereafter, almost collapsed due to complete dependence on imported foreign commercial breeds. The seventies had seen tremendous changes in poultry production in Egypt and the intensive production was dominating up to the mid-eighties. Statistics showed that actual self-sufficiency couldn’t be achieved, if poultry industry has to depend upon the continuous importation of foreign strains of poultry. On light of the fact that the Egyptian breeds of chickens had regained their dominance over the imported ones after poultry production crisis. Great emphasis had been given to extensive poultry production which depends mainly on local breeds, because of their superiority over foreign breeds with respect to tolerance to the unfavorable environment coupled with extensive production. The majority of these breeds could be found in farm location in small number under relatively poor circumstances like to be fed leftovers and those feeds which may be produced in the farm. Many strenuous years had been devoted to find the proper gene-pool (reservoir, basket) which will be utilized for developing egg-type and meat-type breeds. Hypothesized genetic improvement program, showed that crossing coupled with selection had to be practiced for about 25 years. To perform the actual initial performance of foundation stocks, which utilized for producing either egg-type or meat-type Egyptian commercial breeds of chickens. Dokki-4 was utilized as a common breed when establishing the previous foundation stocks. In order to save time, money and efforts, establishing new gene-pool for the same purpose has become a must. Genetic and environmental improvement programs either for egg-type or meat-type chickens are the major topics. However, the present article will deal with improving the genetic performance of egg-type breed of chickens only.

Summary in Arabic.

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