DEVELOPING A FOUR- WAY CROSS FOR IMPROVING EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS IN LOCAL BREEDS OF CHICKENS (A THRESHOLD FOR PRODUCING COMMERCIAL EGG­ TYPE BREEDS OF CHICKENS)

Abstract

The author wishes to express her appreciation and sincere gratitude to her academic advisors Dr. Hassan S. Zeweil, professor of poultry Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, (Saba Basha) University of Alexandria, Dr. Mohamed,. A. Mandour, Professor of Poultry Breeding and Production Animal Husbandry and Animal Health Development Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, and Dr. Taha H.Mohamed, professor of poultry Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, for planning the experiment, continuous help, kind guidance, revising the manuscript and for their encouragement and valuable support.

Deep thanks and grateful mentions due to members of poultry Breeding Department, Sabhia Station, Alexandria, namely, Dr. Hanan Hassan, Associate professor of poultry Breeding Ministry of Agriculture, for their helpful encouragement, valuable criticism, continuous help and valuable support.

Sincere thanks to my colleagues at Sabhia station, namely Dr. Rada Abou El-Ghar, Dr. Osama M. Aly and Mr. Ahmed Nawar for their assistances and providing the facilities required for present study.

Sincere thanks to Dr. Hanaa Khalil, professor of poultry physiology, Director of Sabhia Poultry Station Ministry of Agriculture.

Deep gratitude is extended to my late mother, my husband, son, daughter and sisters for their encouragement and assistance during the strenuous period of study.