Genetic Correlations and Genotype Effect on the Growth Traits of Nigerian Broiler Genotypes

The study evaluated genotype effect on growth traits and genetic correlations of Nigerian indigenous chicken (NIC) broiler genotypes at the T&R farm of FUNAAB. NICs- Normal feathered(N), Frizzle-feathered(Fz) and Naked neck(Nk) chickens were crossed with Marshall(M) Exotic breed to obtain F1(MN, MNk, MFz) and F2 upgrades(MMN, MMFz, MMNk) for the study. The design of the experiment was RCBD. Growth traits data on body weight(BW), body length(BL), breast girth(BG), wing length(WL), wing span(WS), thigh length(TL), shank length(SL) and keel length(KL) were easured for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using the GLM of SAS ver. 9.2. Results showed that genotype significantly (p<0.001) affected BW and linear body parameters studied. At 8 weeks, BW were 1,252.25±40.94g, 1,172.66±39.51g, 1,110.23±29.42g, 1,055.88±26.67g, respectively for M, MMFz, MMNk, MMN and 904.38±25.16g, 816.52±23.89g, 805.24±21.68g for MNk, MFz and MN genotypes, respectively while 791.92±17.95g, 637.05±17.96g and 619.71±19.18g were recorded for Fz, Nk, N, respectively. For F2 upgrades, MMFz upgrade recorded highest BW (1,172.66±39.51g); for F1 crosses, MNk recorded highest BW(904.38±25.16g) while Fz was the heaviest (791.92±17.95g) amongst purebreds. Marshall (control) led in all the linear body measurements, except for TL and SL studied. Heritability ranged was low to high with 0.02±0.05 to 0.64±0.05. SL had lowest h2 value while KL recorded the highest as measured. Genetic correlations showed low to high positive relationships of 0.01 to 0.83 range. In conclusion, F2 upgrades performed best in growth performance, regarded as NIC broilers genotypes. MMFz and MMNK upgrades performed the best for growth traits measured in NIC broiler genotypes of this study.