Abstract: The aim was to study the effect of four feed shapes at the same crude protein content of 13% on the production performance of breeding pigeons. 144 cock and 144 hen breeding pigeons were randomly divided into 4 groups with 36 replicates in each group and one cock and one hen in each replicate. Group Ⅰ was fed cylindric pellet feed, Group Ⅱ was fed globular pellet feed, Group Ⅲ was fed 50% original-shape and 50% cylindric pellet feed, Group Ⅳ was fed original-shape pellet feed. It took 14 days to prepare the test, and the real experiment lasted 106 days. The results showed that in the whole experiment period, the average feed intake (AFI) for breeding pigeons of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were significantly lower than the other groups (P<0.01);during 15 to 21 days old, the group Ⅲ of the AFI was also significantly lower than group Ⅳ(P<0.01). Both groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ could increase the body weight of breeding pigeons during reproductive period (P<0.01), and the growing number in cock was more than in hens. Groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ could increase the body weight of squabs in 7 days old (P<0.01), and the influence might disappear when squabs was 14 days old. Egg fertilization rate of group Ⅰ was significantly higher than that of group Ⅳ(P<0.01),and was higher than that of group Ⅱ(P<0.05). Feed shapes had effects on the production performance of breeding pigeons, but no effect on the pecked feather phenomenon, and cylindric pellet feed had the best positive effect.

Key words: feed shape; breeding pigeons; production performance