ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS OF BIOMETRIC AND ALLOMETRIC TRAITS IN FOUR STRAINS OF THE NIGERIAN HEAVY LOCAL CHICKEN ECOTYPE (NHLCE

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine some genetic parameters of biometric and allometric traits in the Nigerian heavy local chicken ecotype of Nigeria. This study was carried out at the Animal Science teaching and research, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Data from 80 progenies produced by the artificial insemination of 4 male heavy ecotype local chickens with 12 mature female chickens was used for this study. The data analyzed consisted of body weight records from 0-8 weeks as well as conformation traits (body length, chest girth, shank length) at 1, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The results show that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) on the body weight of progenies at weeks 1 and 4, body length of progenies at weeks 1, 4 and 6, girth of progenies at weeks 1, 4 and 8, shank length at weeks 1 and 4. However, there was significant difference (p<0.05) on body weight of progenies at weeks 6 and 8, body length at week 8, chest girth at week 6 and shank length at weeks 6 and 8. The heritability estimates for body weight, body length, chest girth and shank length ranged from low to high with an estimated value of -0.44 to 0.62 respectively. However, high heritability estimates were reported for body weight, body length and shank length (0.40, 0.40, 0.62 respectively). From this study, body weight, body length and shank length at 8 weeks could be used as selection indices for selection of parents of next generation. It’s not advisable to carry out selection at young age because heritability at early ages are been influenced by maternal and environmental effects.