Abstract:
This study evaluates the production performance
of Indian River layer parent stock across brooder
(0-6 weeks), grower (7-15 weeks), and layer (35
61 weeks) stages under Sri Lankan farm
conditions. Key parameter - body weight (BW),
weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI), feed
conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality-were
monitored. Results indicated significant sexual
dimorphism, with males achieving higher BW at
all stages, while females exhibited higher FI
during lay. FCR increased with age, reflecting
greater maintenance and reproductive demands.
A critical finding was the strong negative
correlation between the Temperature-Humidity
Index (THI) and performance metrics (BW, WG,
FI, FCR), while THI was positively correlated
with
mortality.
performance
Furthermore,
profoundly
early-life
influenced
later
productivity; higher WG and FI during the
brooder stage were negatively correlated with
subsequent egg production and egg weight,
whereas a better brooder-stage FCR was
positively correlated. The study concludes that
optimizing
early-growth
management and
mitigating heat stress are essential for maximizing
the reproductive performance and sustainability
of Indian River parent stock in tropical climates.
