Egg Production Traits of Merawang Chicken in Intensive Management
Tike Sartika1, Ferdy Saputra1, Nurul Pratiwi1, Bram Brahmantiyo1, Anne Sukmara1, and Firmansyah Budiyanto2

1Research Center of Animal Husbandry, Research Organization for Agriculture and Food, National Research Innovation Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRIN), Cibinong Sciences Center, Cibinong, Bogor, Indonesia, 16915.
2BPTU Sembawa, Palembang, Directorate of Livestock and Animal Health Services, Ministry of Agriculture.

Abstract

Merawang chicken has been designated as a native chicken breed originating from Merawang Village, Bangka Regency, Bangka-Belitung Province. Merawang chicken has the potential to be commercialized and its production increased through the selection of the formation of GGP/Great Grand Parent/Pureline. The aim of this study was to identify egg production traits of Merawang chicken in intensive management. A total of 361 pullets of Merawang chicken from BPTU-Sembawa, Palembang was used in the research. Variables measured were age at first egg laying (AFL), bodyweight at first egg laying (BWFL), egg weight at first egg laying (EWFL), egg production in number, and percentage of 23-46 weeks of age (EN24 weeks). Analyses data based on the AFL, using a general linear model (GLM) with Duncan^s Multiple Range tests in SAS 9.4. The Age of the first egg laying of Merawang chickens reared under intensive management varied between 148.70 to 180.80 days. Body weight and egg weight at first laying had no significant difference in the first egg-laying age group. The Merawang chickens observed in this study had a total egg number of 45.07 to 55.27%. Crossbreeding is a way to increase local chicken egg production if local chickens have low variation. Increasing FCR, egg production, and egg weight are needed to develop the local chicken industry.

Keywords: Merawang Chicken, Egg Production Traits

Topic: Animal Production