Abstract

The production and reproduction performance of chicken depends on their hormonal status, especially progesterone hormone, which has been known to correlate with egg production. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of progesterone hormone injection on Arabic Gold chickens (Gallus turcicus) regarding egg production and luteinizing hormone concentration in blood plasma. A total number of 60 Arabic Gold chickens aged 26-weeks were divided into three groups based on injected hormone concentration (P0: control; P1: 1 mg/chicken; P2: 2 mg/chicken). The study was conducted using a completely randomized design and the obtained data were analyzed with a descriptive analysis for qualitative data and one-way analysis of variance followed with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test as a post hoc test for the quantitative data. The results presented that progesterone hormone injection had a significant effect on hen day production two and six weeks after injection. The P1 group was able to reach its peak production (82.9%) at week 29, while the P2 group reached its peak at week 26 (78.9%). In addition, it was found that the P2 group produced a soft-shelled egg and double egg yolk. Progesterone injection led to no significant effect on the egg weight, shape index, fertility, embryo viability, hatchability, and chick weight at hatch. The luteinizing hormone concentration was higher in P2 (1.52 ng/ml), compared to P0 (1.36 ng/ml) and P1 (1.34 ng/ml) groups. It was concluded that progesterone hormone injection during the production phase of Arabic Gold chicken had a significant effect on egg production and caused varying egg production peak and luteinizing hormone concentration.