How did the different photoperiods and feeding programs affect the birds?
Body weight -There were no significant differences in age at sexual maturity between any of the groups. Body weight and fat pad weights at sexual maturity were not different in terms of main effects. Within the group of slow photoperiod hens, the fast feed program resulted in heavier body weights compared to the slow feed program. Ovary – Ovary morphology was highly influenced by both the photoperiod and feed allocation treatments. The slow photoperiod treatment had a greater ovary weight than did the fast photoperiod treatment. The fast feed treatment resulted in significantly heavier ovary weight and one more large follicle than the slow feed treatment. To our knowledge this is the first report of a relatively minor feeding difference affecting large follicle recruitment in commercial breeders. Egg production – All treatment groups had very high rates of total egg production when expressed in terms of main effects or the interactions of the main effects. There was a 10.9 egg advantag
