Production performance, egg quality and biochemical parameters of Fayoumi, Rhode Island Red and their reciprocal crossbred chickens

A total of 225 hens (18 weeks of age) including Fayoumi, RIR, RIR X Fayoumi (RIFI) and Fayoumi X RIR (FIRI) were maintained on a deep litter system for a period of 72 weeks. In floor pens, each breed was randomly distributed between pens, with 2124 birds of the same breed per pen (2.002.50 ft(2)/bird). The results revealed that the age of sexual maturity was lowest in Fayoumi followed by RIFI, RIR and FIRI chickens. Crossbred chickens as compared with purebred chickens obtained the highest egg production. Crossbred chickens had the lowest (P < 0.05) mortality over purebred chickens. The highest egg weight was observed in RIR compared to those of Fayoumi and crossbred chickens. The internal egg quality parameters included yolk weight, albumen weight, yolk where albumin weight and albumin height were significantly higher in RIR breed than those of Fayoumi and crossbred chickens. The negative and non-significant (P > 0.05) correlation coefficients were found between age at first egg and egg production. Positive and non-significant (P > 0.05) correlation coefficients were found between the age at first egg and any of the other egg quality traits. However, negative and non-significant correlations (P > 0.05) were obtained between egg production and each egg weight, yolk weight, albumin weight and yolk thickness. Similarly, positive and highly significant (P < 0.01) correlation coefficients were found between egg weight and each yolk weight, albumin weight and albumin height. Positive and significant correlations were found between yolk weight and each albumin weight and albumin height. A positive and significant (P < 0.01) correlation was found between albumin weight and albumin height. However, positive and non-significant correlations (P > 0.05) were found between albumin height and each shell thickness and yolk thickness. However, negative and non-significant correlation was observed between shell thickness and yolk thickness. There was a non-significant (P > 0.05) difference in blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, calcium, protein, uric acid and ALP values among all chickens. It may be concluded that crossbred chickens showed better egg traits than Fayoumi and more moderate than RIR chickens with lower mortality. Fayoumi achieved sexual maturity earlier than both RIR and crossbred chickens with lower egg traits. The crossbred chickens of FIRI showed better performance in all traits than crossbred chickens of RIFI.