Duale Genetiken als Legehennen für die ökologische Legehennenhaltung

Summary

Debates on culling day-old male egg type chicks are constantly growing. The current study investigated the performance of two dual purpose breeds in a mobile production system under organic conditions. 509 Lohmann Dual (LD) and 505 Lohmann Dualexperimental (LDex) day old chicks were reared in two mobile stable barns as hatched. The cockerels were slaughtered on day 70, 80 and 85, the hens remained in their respective mobile barn for a prolonged laying period. Average bodyweight of cockerels at d 85 was 2650 g in LD and 2176 g in LDex. In 68 weeks of production, an average LD hen produced 289 eggs whereas it was 307 eggs in LDex. The performance of the dual purpose breeds is not comparable with those of specialized hybrids however it may still be sufficient if the products realize higher prices at the market.