Comparison of two strains of White Leghorn and their crosses for brooding, growing and pullet mortality and other economic traits

The study was conducted on two selected strains (PL1 & PL2) and their reciprocal crosses over there consecutive generations comprising a total of 5082 birds. Strain PL1 had significantly lower brooding and growing house mortality but was characterized by delayed sexual maturity and lower egg production, egg weight, body weight and egg mass output. Significant differences between the reciprocal crosses were also observed for some traits in some generations. There was a consistent tendency for strain cross PL21 to be better performing than its reciprocal cross implying greater influence of male parental strain on the performance a cross. Desirable heterosis was observed for brooding house mortality. sexual maturity, egg production and egg mass with the magnitude of heterosisbeing in the range of to 1.02 to 38.21%.