DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM The

nutritional requirements of broiler breed-ers and the effect of feed on their performance have been widely documented. It is clear that the levels of ME, CP, amino acids, Ca, and avail-able P (AP) play important roles in their per-formance [1, 2]. However, the most important dietary factors affecting egg weight are dietary fat, especially linoleic acid (LA), protein, and certain amino acids [3]. Early chick perfor-mance is influenced by egg source because egg weight and chick weight at hatching are highly correlated. Embryo size before hatching and at hatching may be altered by egg weight [4]. Eggs of higher weight result in first-grade eggs, lead-© 2013 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Neural network models for predicting early egg weight in broiler breeder hen