Phenotypic variability with respect to egg production of layers and egg weight was respectively 19.0 and 4.6%. The heritability coefficient (h2S + D) of live weight of 35day chicks was 0.44%, breast muscling 0.36%, egg production 0.37%, and egg weight 0.31%.The data in Table 2 show the outcome of early
selection of chicks for live weight (7 days). The effect of selection for this trait during the 5 years was from 4.8 to 7.2%.
The productivity indices of hens of the maternal parent form B79 of the Smena 8 cross are given in Table 3. From hens of the twoline parent form B79,with creation of optimal housing conditions, it is possible to obtain good egg productivity—167 henhoused egg production during 62 weeks, of which 157.8 can be