Crossbreeding Combination Test for the Production of New Synthetic Korean Native Commercial Chickens

In this study, we performed a cross-combination test using offspring from two paternal and five maternal parent stock lines to produce a new synthetic breed of Korean native commercial chickens. The survival rate, body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency were measured for 10 crosses, with 837 Hanhyup-3 chickens used as a control. Most chickens had brown-based feathers, and there was little difference in color phenotypes among combinations. The average survival rate of the combinations was 94.9%, which was significantly different from that of Hanhyup-3 at 75.3% (P<0.01). There was significant differences in body weight among the combinations at all weeks of age (P<0.01). At 10 weeks of age, the FHHY combination was the heaviest with 2,300 g, while the weight of Hanhyup-3 was 1,922 g. In addition, the weight difference between the male and female chickens was 458 g. As a result of regression analysis, the duration needed to reach 1.9 kg was about 61 days for the FHFY, FHHY, and HFFY combinations, and 70 days for Hanhyup-3, exhibiting a 9-day difference. The average feed conversion ratio of the combinations until 10 weeks was 2.42, which was significantly different from that of Hanhyup-3 at 2.97 (P<0.01). In conclusion, FHHY, FHFY, and HFFY were determined to be the best new breed combinations based on production capacity. When these combinations are used as new commercial breeds, they are expected to increase the average weight by 18% and improve feed efficiency by 19%, as compared to the existing Hanhyup-3 breed. (