HERFS/AUTUMN BONUS TYDSKRIF 2026

A comparison of common laying breeds in South Africa Danielle van der Merwe – Technical Advisor: Poultry The threemost used commercial laying breeds in South Africa are the Hy- Line, Lohmann, and Amberlink layers. Looking at different production systems, the preferred choice of breed seems to be based on personal preference from farm to farm. Commonly, you will hear that the farmer has either always farmed with that breed and they have a trusted pullet supplier who supplies the breed they prefer, or they prefer the breed due to a specific trait, such as environmental adaptability. With layer genetics having advanced over the years, this article will investigate the differences between these three modern breeds and what factors would influence a farmer to choose one breed over another. The observations in this article are based on the breed standards for each breed. Breed history and appearance Within all three breeds, you’ll find a brown and white/silver feather colour variant. As seen below (Figure 1), in overall physical appearance, the breeds are very similar when comparing the respective white and brown lines. Small variations can be seen in face and body shape, but these can be difficult to differentiate even when looking at the breeds side by side. The Hy-Line breed was originally developed in America in 1936 and came from crossing breeds such as the Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, Leghorn, and Light Sussex. This breed was bred with the goal of high egg production. Herfs/Autumn 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 80