Effect of age at first egg on reproduction performance and characterization of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in chickens.

ABSTRACT: As an important indicator of sexual maturity of hens, age at first egg (AFE) is significantly associated with reproduction performance. In this study, 400 hens were divided into 6 groups based on AFE to analyze the difference of reproduction performance, reproduction hormone levels and the characterization of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in chickens. The results showed that the egg production of the hens in the late-maturing groups was significantly lower than that of the ones in other groups and the precocious hens had a lower egg production rate. The hens in late-maturing group had a lower fertility rate, LH levels and shorter duration of peak of egg production (PEP), the precocious hens had lower PRL levels. In addition, the characterization of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonada

SUBMITTER: Tan YG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8313835 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature