Poultry or Avian Science Commons^™

Evaluating Long-Term Direct And Correlated Selection Response In White Plymouth Rock Chickens Selected For High Or Low 8-Week Body Weight, Sylvia Harrison

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The increasing demand for poultry meat has led animal breeders to engage in artificial selection of chickens as a way to increase the productivity of poultry. Long-term experiments have been designed to measure rates of genetic response to a trait under selection, and correlated traits, as well as gauge possible selection limits.

Two studies were conducted to evaluate response to selection for body weight (BW) in chickens. The chickens were selected for high or low BW at 8 weeks of age. Those that met the criterion were selected as parents for the subsequent generation. In the first study the population …

Developing Rapid-Feathering Chickens, I. L. Williams, H. L. Wiegers

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

The object of this circular is to acquaint the poultry producer, hatchery operator, or any other person endeavoring to develop improved strains of chickens with a satisfactory method for eliminating slow-feathering individuals from his flock.

Poultry Progress: What Are Good Chickens?, F. E. Mussehl

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Circulars

The desire for improvement is one of the highest of human virtues. Folks everywhere want good chickens. The poultry business is a competitive enterprise, and it is imperative that we have the best stock possible for the particular job to be done. But what are good chickens? Is there confusion about the term? Perhaps we can clarify the picture by asking one or two questions.