Effect of Parental Age on Growth Performance and Feed Conversion Ratio of Progeny in Three Naked Neck Chicken Varieties

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of parental age on growth performance and feed conversion ratio of progeny in three varieties of Naked Neck chickens. A total of 126 day-old chicks produced from parent stocks of two age groups (45 and 55 weeks) belonging to light brown, black, and dark brown varieties were reared for a period of 20 weeks. Growth performance parameters, including body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were recorded weekly. Results showed that progeny from 55-week-old parents exhibited significantly higher body weight gain and improved FCR compared to progeny from 45-week-old parents (P ≤ 0.05). Feed intake was also higher in progeny of older parents; however, improved feed efficiency indicated better nutrient utilization. Among varieties, light brown males and black females demonstrated superior growth performance. A significant interaction between parental age and variety was observed for body weight gain and FCR, with progeny from 55-week-old black parents showing the best overall growth performance. It was concluded that parental age is a critical factor influencing the growth performance of Naked Neck chicken progeny, and optimizing breeder age can enhance the productivity of indigenous poultry under local management conditions.