Breed for faster growth

[protodon]

This may sound like a silly question. I was wondering if I wanted to breed for a faster growing bird, how would I determine which ones grow the fastest? At first I thought I could weigh every week until deadline/butcher day and keep the heaviest. Then I realized that just weighing live on butcher day would end up with the same result with less work. Is there even a reason to weigh weekly? Is there anything else I should look for if I was to breed for faster growth?

 

[TimG]

Quote:
You've confused me. If you want to breed for early growth, why would you wait until butcher day to weigh the birds. Don't you want to breed those birds who experience their growth early, that is, well before butcher day?

 

[bigredfeather]

I would evalute them at 8 and 16 weeks. I band the biggest ones at 8 weeks, and then at 16 weeks evalute them again. Most times the same ones are selected at 16 weeks. I doubt you would have to weigh them. Usually, for me, you can find the fastest growing ones visually. I have done this with my Buckeyes with great success. Soon I hope to have developed a bird that will be ready to butcher at 14 weeks. I am still a few years away, but am getting closer after each evaluation and cull.

 

[protodon]

Quote:
You've confused me. If you want to breed for early growth, why would you wait until butcher day to weigh the birds. Don't you want to breed those birds who experience their growth early, that is, well before butcher day?

Well I wasn't actually trying to change butcher day by making it earlier but this is also an option. I was trying to find birds that would be biggest by that time. If I were breeding the biggest I obviously wouldn't butcher then on that day. I should mention that I would be working with ducks so I am not sure I am would want to wait up to 16 weeks.