Influence of route of admisnistration of 2- α - bromoergocriptine on egg production in coloured broiler dam line

The study was carried out to study the effect of route of administration of 2-α-bromoergocriptine on production efficiency in broiler breeder dam line (PB-2). Two groups of breeder dams (50 each) were administered with antiprolactin agent (2-α-bromoergocriptine) subcutaneously and orally @ 100 μg/kg b.wt/bird/day and 350μg/bird/day, respectively at weekly intervals from 17 to 36 weeks of age. One group (50 birds) was maintained as control. The mean plasma prolactin concentration was analysed by RIA method. The results indicated a lower profile of prolactin up to 40 weeks of age in bromocriptine injected group in comparison to orally fed and control groups (P < 0.05). Age at sexual maturity and body weight at sexual maturity showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in bromocriptine injected group over the bromocriptine fed and control groups. The average number of pause days was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in bromocriptine injected group (42.44±1.94). The reduction of pause days resulted in increased percentage of egg production of about 6.95% in bromocriptine injected and 3.87% in bromocriptine fed group over that of control. The difference in mean egg production recorded in bromocriptine injected (8.90) and orally fed group (2.94) over that of control group revealed a consistent relationship between the plasma prolactin concentration and production performance in coloured broiler dam line.