CHANGING EMPHASIS IN GENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF EGG-TYPE CHICKENS

The improvement of white-egg and brown-egg strains of chickens during the 20-year period from 1974 to 1994 is reviewed, based on published s ummaries of the five German random sample tests. Brown-egg stocks have made more progress, especially between 1974 and 1984, in egg producti on and feed efficiency. In view of the decreasing rate of progress in egg production it is argued that the emphasis of selection will change to meet specific market needs.