Productivity, repeatability of productive and reproductive traits of local pigeon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to know productivity and repeatability of local pigeon. Data were collected from 124 birds that reared under intensive management. The results showed that artificial pair was 100% and polygamy was 16% (n=62 pair of pigeon). The ration of local pigeon consisting of 50% corn+50% of commercial feed for starter broiler chicken can be applied in field. The average of egg production was 1.8 eggs/pair/period, egg weight was 17.7 g, fertility was 96.6%, hatching rate was 77%, embryo mortality rate was 23%, interval period from laying to hatching and suckling was 51 days, 31.4 days with hatching, and 17.6 days without hatching and suckling. The day old pigeon weight ranged 10.9-16.2 g. Repeatability value of productive traits was high, in which egg weight was 0.64 and day old pigeon weight was 0.737. Repeatability of reproductive traits was low, that was fertility and hatchability was 0.12 and 0.048, respectively). The squab weight increased from week 0 to 4, then decreased in the week 5. The growth rate was highest at the week 1, then decreased from the week 2 to 5 with the negative growth rate occur at the 5th week. The squab growth rate followed a quadratic pattern. It was concluded that slaughter squab selection could be done at 4th week old.