T-maze performance and body weight relationship in broiler chicks

MARIN RH, ARCE A, MARTIJENA ID

APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 1997 p. 197 - 205

0168-1591

Two-day-old broiler chicks of both sexes were selected on the basis of their escape performance from a T-maze apparatus. and termed high performance (H-P). moderate performance (M-P), and low performance (L-P) chicks. Then, the three groups were reared to reach 15 days of age and the gender and body weights measured. A lineal regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between body weight and the performance of chicks, without sex discrimination. Furthermore. two-way ANOVA on the body weight (selection X gender). showed a significant main effect of selection. LSD pairwise comparison of means shows that the H-P male chicks (322.0 g) were 12.7% heavier ( p < 0.01) than their L-P counterparts (285.7 g). Similar differences in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. main effect of selection. LSD pairwise comparison of means shows that the H-P male chicks (322.0 g) were 12.7% heavier ( p < 0.01) than their L-P counterparts (285.7 g). Similar differences in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. X gender). showed a significant main effect of selection. LSD pairwise comparison of means shows that the H-P male chicks (322.0 g) were 12.7% heavier ( p < 0.01) than their L-P counterparts (285.7 g). Similar differences in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. ( p < 0.01) than their L-P counterparts (285.7 g). Similar differences in body weight were observed between H-P and L-P female chicks, but they failed to reach the significant level. Thus, the T-maze performance might be a useful selection criterion in future breeding programs to obtain birds with a better development capacity. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.