1. The Richards function was used to describe the growth curves (n = 989) of 9 broiler lines. Chickens were fed ad libitum and body weight was recorded every second week from hatching to 26 weeks of age. 2. The accuracy of curve fit measured by the coefficient of determination (R2) was better for males than for females (0.9986-0.9995 vs 0.9972-0.9988, respectively). 3. The estimation of the asymptotic final weight (A) for different lines enabled the degree of maturity (ut = yt/A) to be determined at any fixed point of the curve. At the age of 7 weeks this had a value of 0.318-0.369 for cockerels and 0.325-0.377 for pullets and represented the slaughter maturity of individual lines. The ratio of inflection/asymptotic weight (y+/A = 0.370-0.388) indicated that in some cases chicken growth can be described approximately by the Gompertz function (y+/A = 0.368). 4. It was found that the age at the inflection point of curves (t+ 48.2-55.7 d for cockerels and t+ = 47.8-52.8 d for pullets) roughly corresponds to the slaughter age of the chickens. 5. The interline differences in the parameters of maturation rate for weight (y+/A, k, t+, u7) are low in comparison with the differences in body weight (A, y+, y7) and absolute growth rate (v, v+). 6. The intragroup phenotypic correlation among growth parameters and the importance of the mathematical models are discussed.
1. Growth curves of nine selected lines and one random-bred control population (in total, n = 1070) were evaluated by the Richards function. The ducks were weighed at 7-d intervals and, after the tenth week, every second week (up to 18 weeks). Food and water were supplied ad libitum. 2. The predicted curves closely fitted the weight data points (R2 = 0.9991-0.9997). 3. The ducks are characterized by early maturity rate. The peak of the absolute growth rate (the inflection point of the curve) occurred at 24.1-27.6 d of age (t+). A higher ratio of the inflection to the asymptotic weights (y+/A = 0.380-0.424) was found in comparison to those from the Gompertz-type function of growth (y+/A = 0.368). 4. In the selected lines the degree of maturity at a slaughter age of 7 weeks (u7 = y7/A) ranged from 0.784 to 0.835 for males and from 0.819 to 0.889 for females. 5. Ducks within the non-selected control line had a significantly lower maturing rate than the selected lines. 6. Sexual dimorphism was recorded for all growth parameters analysed. Females have faster maturation rate than males (higher values of y+/A, u7, k and a shorter auto-acceleration phase of growth). 7. High interline differences were found for body weight (A, y+, y7) and for absolute growth rate (v, v+) and smaller ones for parameters of the maturation rate (y+/A, u7, k and t+). 8. The intragroup phenotype correlation between growth parameters and the use of weight data only up to 7 weeks of age for the estimation of parameters of the Richards function are discussed.
Summary A comparative analysis of chicken growth curves (n = 328) of White Cornish, Orpington, New Hampshire breeds and two lines of White Leghorn was based on the Richards function parameters. The accuracy of curve fit was expressed by percentage deviations of the observed and estimated weights in individual points of the curve and for a standardized period of 24 weeks. The greatest deviations were observed at the beginning of the growth period. The breeds differed distinctly in the parameters of the growth curve concerning live weights and the rate of gains, i. e. in the asymptotic final weight (A), the weight at inflection point (y*) and average and maximal rate of growth (v and v*). Significant differences were recorded also in the length of the autoacceleration phase of growth (t*). The shape of average breed growth curves approximated at most the Gompertz type of growth (n → 0, y*/A ≐ 0.368), but high individual variability was established (− 0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1.0, 0.279 ≤ y*/A ≤ 0.500) within the investigated set of individuals. In the present study relationships among individual parameters of the Richards function are considered. High intragroup phenotypic correlations among the shape parameter n and the k parameter characterizing the rate of maturing (rp = 0.89 up to 0.97), n and A(rp = −0.26 up to −0.82), and k and A (rp = −0.44 up to −0.87) are the expression of functional relations among the parameters. Résumé Les courbes de croissance des poussins de différent types de rendement L'analyse comparative des courbes de croissance des poussins (n = 328) des races White Cornish, Orpington, New Hampshire et de deux lignées White Leghorn a été effectuée sur la base des paramètres de la fonction de Richards. La précision de la «curve fit» a été déterminée à l'aide des déviations de pour cent du poids réel et évalué dans les différents points de la courbes et pour une période standarde de 24 semaines. Les déviations les plus grandes ont été enregistrées au début de la période de croissance. Les races différaient réciproquement sur les paramètres de la fonction de croissance concernant le poids vif ainsi que la vitesse de l'obtention des gains de poids, c'est à dire dans le poids final asymptotique (A), sur le poids au moment de l'obtention du point d'inflexion (y*) et sur la vitesse moyenne et maximale de croissance (v et v*). Les différences significatives ont pu être trouvées dans la durée de la phase de croissance d'autoaccélération (t*). La forme des courbes de croissance ressemblait le plus au type de croissance de Gompertz (n → 0, y*/A ≐ 0.368), mais dans le cadre du groupe contrôlé d'individus a pu être trouvée une haute variabilité individuelle (−0.4 ≤ n ≤ 1.0, 0.279 ≤ y*/A ≤ 0.500). Le présent travail traite des dépendances réciproques entre les paramètres de la fonction de Richards. Les hautes corrélations phénotypiques au sein des groupes entre la paramètre de forme n et celui k qui caractérise la vitesse de croissance (rp = 0.89–0.97), n et A (rp = −0.26‐−0.82) et k et A (rp = −0.44‐−0.87) expriment la rel...
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