This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between some body
measurements at 20 weeks of age and productive traits in two local strains of
chickens. A total of 212 pullets from Golden Montazah and Mandarah strains (106
pullets from each) were individually weighed. conformation measurements at 20
weeks of age. Data on shank. thigh. keel and breast width lengths were classified
according to three categories (short, medium and long lengths). All pullets were
moved to individual layer cages to 90 days of laying. At 84 days of laying. one egg
from each hen yield was broken to determine egg quality traits. Age at sexual maturity for Golden Montazah was 173.1 days and 171.0 days
for Mandarah. it was gradually decreased (P<0.05) with the increasing of breast width.
Body weight at sexual maturity averaged 1592.1 g and 1508.9 g in Golden Montazah
and Mandarah, respectively. Long measurements recorded the heaviest (P< 0.05)
body weight at sexual maturity except breast width. Egg weight at sexual maturity
average 35.4 g and 36.5 g in Golden Montazah and Mandarah. respectively, it was
gradually increased (P< 0.05) with the increasing of keel length. Golden Montazah hens exceeded (P< 0.05) Mandarah In each of egg number,
egg mass and rate of laying in the first 90 days of laying. Egg production traits
gradually increased (P< 0.05) with decreasing the thigh length and with increasing
the keel length. Short thighs and long keels in Golden Montazah were related with
higher (P< 0.05) egg number, egg mass and rate of laying in the first 90 days of
laying. Short shank and long breast width in Mandarah hens were related with higher
(P< 0.05) egg number and rate of laying in the first 90 days of laying. The medium
keels and long breast width were related with the heaviest (P < 0.05) egg mass. Golden Montazah eggs were significantly (P<0.05) highest Haugh unit
whereas. Mandarah eggs had significantly highest albumen percentage. Shanks in
Golden Montazah were significantly (P< 0.05) effect on egg shape index. while keels
of shanks, thighs (Golden Montazah) and keels (Mandarah) were significant (P<0.05)
effect on yolk and albumen percentages, however thigh length and breast width in
Mandarah were significant (P respectively. Thigh length was negatively significant and. keel length was positively
significant correlated with most egg production traits for Golden Montazah, while
shank length was negatively significant and breast width length was positively
correlated with most egg production with Mandarah hens at (P < 0.05). Conclusively, it could be concluded that thigh and keel lengths were greatly
related with high egg production traits in Golden Montazah, while the shank and
breast width lengths in Mandarah took the same importance.