RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 2 shows the analysis of variance of hen-day, henhoused
production and total eggs hatched. The effects
of both age and uniformity group on all three traits were
highly significant. Age x uniformity interactions were
significant only for total hatched eggs. Some of the flocks
had uniformities well below the recommended level
within 10% of the standard weight for the particular age.
This poor level of uniformity will be compounded during
the subsequent productive cycle (North, 1980).
Numerous factors may have played a role in the
decrease of uniformity. However, the major factor was
probably the fact that these flocks suffered from
outbreaks of Marek disease, Gumboro and Chronic
Respiratory Disease (CRD). Disease has a major
impact on flock uniformity and early exposure to disease
elements usually has the worst and most lasting effect
on the uniformity of a flock (Matthijs et al., 2003).
Uniformity had a highly significant effect on all traits
under study.
Figure 1 demonstrates that the high uniformity group
(75-80%) consistently had the highest hen-day
production over all ages, while the low uniformity group
consistently had the lowest hen-day production.