Effects of Body Condition, Anatomical Measurement, and Age on the Cumulative Number of Individual Egg Production and Laying Pattern in First Laying Hens

Abstract

The individual egg production capacity of laying hens plays an outstanding role in achieving total production within a flock, which is affected by several internal and external factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of body condition, anatomical measurement, and age at the first laying (AFL) on the cumulative number of individual egg production (CNIEP) and laying pattern. Therefore, 172 Isa Brown laying chickens were investigated. Data on body condition and anatomical measurement were collected at the age of 16 weeks, while data on production was collected during 21 weeks of production (18-39 weeks). The obtained data were analyzed by Partial Least Square- Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using smartPLS. The findings revealed that CNIEP could be predicted by body condition, anatomical measurement, and AFL. Compared to body condition and anatomical measurements, AFL was the most prominent factor in CNIEP. Body condition, anatomical measurement, AFL, and CNIEP had weak effects on the Isa Brown laying chickens’ patterns.