GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC ASSOCIATIONS OF JUVENILE BODY WEIGHTS AND EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS IN TWO STRAINS OF RHODE ISLAND CHICKENS

Authors

  • O. O. ONI National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1096, Shika - Zaria.
  • B. Y. ABUBAKAR National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1096, Shika - Zaria
  • S. O. OGUNDIPE National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1096, Shika - Zaria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v18i.1968

Keywords:

Rhode Island chickens, Body weight, Egg production, Correlation

Abstract

Data on body weight at 16 (WT16); 20 (WT20) weeks of age and at sexual maturity (WTSM) weight of first egg (WT1st), age at sexual maturity (ASM) and 120-d egg production (EN)  were used to estimate genetic parameters in 636 hens of two strains of Rhode Island chikens. There were significant (P.01) differences between  the two strains for all traits except for WTSM.The heritability estimates obtained ranged from 0.05 to 0.41 and 0.04 to 0.30 for strains 1 and 2 respectively. The genetic correlations obtained for the various traits were medium to high for the two strains. The phenotypic correlations were generally low but followed the same trend. The results indicate that selected stocks of the two strains would show improvements in egg production and age   at sexual maturity if juvenile body weight (WT20) is employed as a selection criterion at housing for laying hens.

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Published

2021-01-12

How to Cite

ONI, O. O., ABUBAKAR, B. Y. ., & OGUNDIPE , S. O. (2021). GENETIC AND PHENOTYPIC ASSOCIATIONS OF JUVENILE BODY WEIGHTS AND EGG PRODUCTION TRAITS IN TWO STRAINS OF RHODE ISLAND CHICKENS . Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 18, 66–70. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.v18i.1968

Issue

Vol. 18 (1991)

Section

Articles

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