GENETIC STUDIES OF FULANI ECOTYPE CHICKENS FOR PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Fulani ecotype chickens compare to other native chickens in Nigeria are superior in body weight, body length and height at withers. This study was conducted with 90 Fulani ecotype chicks, brooded under intensive management system for 8 weeks. The birds were sexed and assigned at random into 2 rearing systems(cage and deep litter) containing mixed sexes and polydactyly of 45 birds each and each treatment was replicated 5 times with 9 birds per replicates in completely randomized design at 8 weeks. Body weight and linear body measurement changes were recorded every two weeks till 16th week. At 11th and 16th weeks blood samples were collected from 30 birds selected at random from the two treatments for haematology and serum biochemical studies to ascertain the health status of the birds. Thirty birds selected at random from the two treatments were slaughtered to determine the carcass parameters at 16 weeks. Data generated on performance traits were subjected to least squares means, correlation and regression analyses and prediction using SAS 9.2 (Version 2008). Results obtained from body weight and linear body measurements showed that the sex and polydactyly, were significantly different (p<0.05) for all parameters at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks except the nose to shoulder length (SL) and shoulder to tail length (STTL) at 4 weeks and nose to shoulder at 8 weeks. The rearing systems had significant effect (p<0.05) on wing length (WGL), shank circumference (SC), drumstick length (DSL), neck circumference (NEC), breast girth (BG) and body length (BG). Sex and polydactyly had significant effect (p<0.05) on the carcass parameters measured except the organs. Sex, polydactyly and rearing system were significantly different (p<0.05) for serum cholesterol, pack cell volume, red blood cell, heamoglobin, aspatate amino transferase, mean cell haemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, mean cell volume, albumin, globulin, total protein and alkaline phosphate at the 11 and 16 weeks. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between body weight and linear body measurements showed positively low to high correlations at 4 and 8 weeks, moderate to high positive correlations at 12 weeks, positively high to very high correlations at 16 weeks. Prediction using simple linear and quadratic functions on body weight from linear body measurements showed that SL, SC, DSL, WGL, STTL, TL, BL, BG and HAW were the best linear part to predict chickens body weight at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. This study revealed the various significant effects of sex, polydactyly and rearing system on some physiological parameters. Deep litter system is a better management system for raising indigenous chickens. Meaningful improvements can be made through selection of correlated pair of traits that were positive and significant. Also, easily measured parts can be fitted into regression functions to predict body weight of Fulani ecotype chicken as established in this study.