Association of Immunocompetence and Production Traits in White Leghorn Chicken

The present investigation was carried out to assess the relationship of immunocompetence traits with production traits in four White leghorn strains viz., IWH, IWI, IWK and control. The anti SRBC titre was positively correlated with age at first egg at genetic level (0.189 to 0.285) while it was negatively correlated phenotypically (-0.056 to -0.111) and environmentally (-0.037 to -0.111). The genetic and phenotypic correlations of anti SRBC titre with body weights and egg production at different ages were mostly positive. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of anti NDV titre with age at first egg, body weights at different age and annual egg production were mostly positive. The correlations of response to PHA-P with other production traits varied both in magnitude and direction. This study indicated that the environmental factors improving the humoral response will reduce the annual egg production and selection for high antibody titre against NDV may improve annual egg production which is of primary importance in layers. Further studies are needed to establish the exact genetic relationship of cell mediated response to PHA-P with production traits.