Redhill Poultry
In the Brooder
- Feb 22, 2016
- 1
- 3
- 32
I am curious to know if any of you have kept records of feed efficiency on developing cock birds and allowed the resulting data to impact your selection process.
While type reigns supreme, it is not uncommon for some strains to place selection pressure on egg production for pullets and hens as a matter of reducing overhead expenses via removing freeloaders from the breeding population. In much the same way, I think selection pressure on rate of growth and feed efficiency could be beneficial to breeders who hatch out chicks in quantity. It is something I have long pondered, but short of penning fronto running cockerels individually and measuring residual feed intake, I am unsure how it could be done. Even that could prove impractical for some folks.
Heritage breeds will never again have commercial relevance, but it could behoove the small holder and entrepreneur to make selections in such a way.
I would love to hear other's thoughts!
While type reigns supreme, it is not uncommon for some strains to place selection pressure on egg production for pullets and hens as a matter of reducing overhead expenses via removing freeloaders from the breeding population. In much the same way, I think selection pressure on rate of growth and feed efficiency could be beneficial to breeders who hatch out chicks in quantity. It is something I have long pondered, but short of penning fronto running cockerels individually and measuring residual feed intake, I am unsure how it could be done. Even that could prove impractical for some folks.
Heritage breeds will never again have commercial relevance, but it could behoove the small holder and entrepreneur to make selections in such a way.
I would love to hear other's thoughts!
