Estimates of Crossbreeding Parameters for Growth Traits in Crosses between Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Chickens

Udeh Ifeanyichukwu

Abstract


The aim of this study was to estimate crossbreeding parameters namely direct additive, maternal additive and direct heterosis for bodyweight and weight gain of crosses between Nigerian indigenous (NIC) and two inbred lines of exotic chickens namely pure white (PW) and pure black (PBL). The NIC was divided into two replicate groups namely NIC1 and NIC2. The inbred lines were derived from the within strain mating of two commercial strains of egg type chickens namely H and N Brown Nick and Black Olympia. Estimates of direct additive and their percentages were high and highly significant (p<0.01) in PW, NIC1 and their crosses at 4-20 weeks of age and at 4, 12-20 weeks of age in PBL, NIC2 and their crosses. Similarly, estimates of direct additive for weight gain were significant (p<0.05) at 0-8 weeks of age for PW, NIC1 and their crosses and at 0-4, 8-12 weeks of age in PBL, NIC2 and their crosses. While estimates of maternal additive were positive and significant for bodyweight at 0-4 weeks and weight gain at 0-4 and 12-16 weeks of age in PBL, NIC2 and their crosses, the estimates were not significant for bodyweight and weight gain in PW, NIC1 and their crosses. The estimates of direct heterosis and its percentage for bodyweight and weight gain were significant in both crosses. The study concluded that significant improvement in the bodyweight and weight gain of the NIC could be obtained by crossing with the exotic lines.


Keywords


Crossbreeding, direct additive, direct heterosis, direct maternal, inbred lines

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abiola, S. S., Meshioye, B. O., Oyerinde, B. O., and Bamgbosa. M. A. (2008). Effects of egg size on hatchability of broiler chicks. Arch. Zootec., 57 (217): 83 – 86.

Alabi, O. J., Ng’ambi, J. W., Norris, D., and Madelebele, M. (2012). Effect of egg weights on hatchability and subsequent performance of Potchefstroom Koekoek chicks. Asian J Anim. and Vet. Advances, 7: 718 - 725.

Ayorinde, K. L., Atteh, J. O., and Joseph, K. J. (1994). Pre- and post hatch growth of Nigerian indigenous guinea fowl as influenced by egg size and hatch weight. Nig. J. Anim. Prod., 21: 59 – 65.

Bothaina, Y., Mahmoud, F., and Ensaf El-Full, A. (2014). Crossbreeding components for daily gain and growth rate traits in crossing of Rhode Island Red with Gimmizah chickens. Egypt. Poult. Sci., 1 (34): 151 – 163.

Iraqi, M. M., Hanafi, M. S., Khalil, M. S., El-Labban, A. F. M., and Ell-Sisy, M. (2002). Genetic evaluation of growth traits in a crossbreeding experiment involving two local strains of chicken using multi-trait animal model. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 14 (5): 1 – 9. http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd14/5/iraq145tmp.htm.

Kinghorn, B. P. (1987). Crossbreeding in domestic animals. Proceedings of the Australian association of Animal Breeding and Genetics. 6: 112 – 123.

Lalev, M., Mincheva, N., Oblakova, M., Hristakieva, P., and Ivanova, I. (2014). Estimation of heterosis, direct and maternal additive effects from crossbreeding experiment involving two White Plymouth Rock lines of chickens. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry, 30 (1): 103 – 114.

Nwosu, C. C. (1987). Is the local chicken essential or non essential? Invited paper, poultry farmer’s workshop. Agric. Ext. and Res. Liason Service, ABU Zaria. Dec. 8-9: 1987.

Nwosu, C. C., and Omeje, S. I. (1984). Improved annual egg production from Nigerian local chicken by Gold Link F1 cross progeny. Xviii world’s poultry congress, Helsinki, pp: 8 – 12.

Obioha, F. C. (1982). A guide to poultry production in the tropics. ACENA Publishers.

Oluyemi, J. A., and Roberts, F. A. (1979). Poultry production in warm wet climates. Macmillan publishers Ltd. London and Basingtoke, UK.

Omeje, S. I. (1989). Development of the Nigerian chicken for improved production. A new approach. Invited paper. Agric. Symp. Professors World Peace Academy, Ibadan, Nigeria. 18th Dec. 1989.

Omeje, S. I., and Nwosu, C. C. (1986). Further explanation of the genetic basis of bodyweight heterosis in local by Gold link chicken crosses. In Animal Production in Nigeria. Nigerian Society for Animal Prod. Zaria. pp: 41 – 46.

Omeje, S.I., and Nwosu, C. C. (1988). Utilization of the Nigerian chicken in poultry breeding. Assessment of heterosis in growth and egg production. J. Anim. Breed and Genetics. 105: 417 – 425.

Prodfoot, F. G., and Hulam, H. W. (1981). The influence of hatching egg size on the subsequent performance of broiler chicken. Poultry Sci., 60: 2167 – 2170.

Tullet, S. G., and Burton, F. G. (1982). Factors affecting the weight and water status of the chick at hatch. Brit. Poult. Sci. 23 (4): 361 – 369.

Udeh, I., and Omeje, S. I. (2002). Heterosis for bodyweight in native and exotic inbred chicken crosses. Trop. J. Anim. Sci., 4 (1): 1 – 14.

Udeh, I., and Omeje, S. I. (2005). Heterosis for egg production in native by exotic inbred chicken crosses. Nig. J. Anim. Prod. 32 (1): 7 – 20.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2018 Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.