Production potential of Sasso and Tetra H Chickens at the Bee and Waterfowl Research Center
The study was conducted to evaluate the productivity including growth performance and reproductive performance of two imported chicken breeds Sasso (France) and Tetra H (Hungary) raised at Lien Ninh Experimental Station, Bee and Waterfowl Research Center, Vietnam Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science. In the framework of the project: Asian Chicken Genetic Gain (AsCGG), this study aims to select and test dual-purpose chicken breeds with suitable characteristics to domestic consumer, high productivity and adaptability to farming conditions in Vietnam. The test was conducted on 400 chickens/breed, divided into 4 pens (100 chickens/pen) in period of 1-20 weeks old, after 20 weeks old, hens were select to keep in individula cage to evaluate the reproductive performance. The results showed that the two imported dual-purpose chicken breeds have high adaptability to Vietnam conditions, demonstrated by the high survival rate, reaching 98.22 and 97.58% in the 0-8 weeks period. The weight of Sasso breed roosters and hens at 8 weeks of age was 831.0 and 780.4g, respectively; 2017.4 g and 1690.9 g at 20 weeks old; Tetra H breed reached 1007.8 and 944.6 g at 8 weeks of age, respectively; and 2154.5 g and 1877 g at 20 weeks of age, respectively. Sasso breeds reached 5% laying rate at 22 weeks of age while Tetra H breeds reached it at 24 weeks of age. Egg production at 72 weeks of age of Sasso and Tetra H breeds reached 255.98 and 222.84 eggs/hen, corresponding to feed conversion ratios for 10 eggs of 1.78 and 1.92 kg, respectively. The results showed that the two imported chicken breeds had high productivity, were adapted in Vietnamese conditions, and have the potential to be used in poultry genetic improvement programs in Vietnam.
