Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management
Natural mating colony cages are crucial in poultry breeding, yet breed-specific management requires further investigation. We evaluated the effects of sex ratios, stocking densities, and cohabitation age on Lohmann Pink-shell breeders’ performance. A total of 6126 birds were randomly allocated to ex...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Yuqi Chen Yalan Zuo Aosui Zhao Yao Zhang Shunshun Han Can Cui Huadong Yin |
| author_facet | Yuqi Chen Yalan Zuo Aosui Zhao Yao Zhang Shunshun Han Can Cui Huadong Yin |
| author_sort | Yuqi Chen |
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| description | Natural mating colony cages are crucial in poultry breeding, yet breed-specific management requires further investigation. We evaluated the effects of sex ratios, stocking densities, and cohabitation age on Lohmann Pink-shell breeders’ performance. A total of 6126 birds were randomly allocated to experimental groups with varying ratios (1:8–1:13), densities (582–748 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird), and cohabitation ages (120/140 days), each containing six replicates. We monitored male mating frequencies at 50 weeks in 1:8 and 1:10 ratio groups. All 120-day-old groups showed delayed production onset and superior male weight compliance (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with reduced egg breakage and increased healthy chick output (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Lower stocking densities (748/694 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird) showed lower breakage rate and uniformity than 582 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The 1:10 sex ratio achieved optimal egg production and fertilization rate (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Male mating peaked between 16:00 and 18:00. Optimal parameters were 120-day age of cohabitation, 694 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird density, and 1:10 sex ratio, providing theoretical guidance for natural mating colony cage development in layer breeding. |
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| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-6a28f1c0e16a42948f4b1af0cd9f9d252025-07-11T14:35:02ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011513192510.3390/ani15131925Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing ManagementYuqi Chen0Yalan Zuo1Aosui Zhao2Yao Zhang3Shunshun Han4Can Cui5Huadong Yin6Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaNatural mating colony cages are crucial in poultry breeding, yet breed-specific management requires further investigation. We evaluated the effects of sex ratios, stocking densities, and cohabitation age on Lohmann Pink-shell breeders’ performance. A total of 6126 birds were randomly allocated to experimental groups with varying ratios (1:8–1:13), densities (582–748 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird), and cohabitation ages (120/140 days), each containing six replicates. We monitored male mating frequencies at 50 weeks in 1:8 and 1:10 ratio groups. All 120-day-old groups showed delayed production onset and superior male weight compliance (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with reduced egg breakage and increased healthy chick output (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Lower stocking densities (748/694 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird) showed lower breakage rate and uniformity than 582 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The 1:10 sex ratio achieved optimal egg production and fertilization rate (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Male mating peaked between 16:00 and 18:00. Optimal parameters were 120-day age of cohabitation, 694 cm<sup>2</sup>/bird density, and 1:10 sex ratio, providing theoretical guidance for natural mating colony cage development in layer breeding.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1925behaviorstocking densitysex rationatural mating colony cagecohabitation age |
| spellingShingle | Yuqi Chen Yalan Zuo Aosui Zhao Yao Zhang Shunshun Han Can Cui Huadong Yin Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management Animals behavior stocking density sex ratio natural mating colony cage cohabitation age |
| title | Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management |
| title_full | Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management |
| title_fullStr | Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management |
| title_short | Rooster Behavior and Laying Breeder Performance in Natural Mating Cages as a Function of Different Rearing Management |
| title_sort | rooster behavior and laying breeder performance in natural mating cages as a function of different rearing management |
| topic | behavior stocking density sex ratio natural mating colony cage cohabitation age |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1925 |
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