Relationship Between Body Weight and Growth Traits of Crossbred Fulani Ecotype Chicken in Derived Savannah Zone of Nigeria.

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the genetic relationship between body weight and growth trait of crossbred Fulani ecotype chicken at different ages. The data used in this study were obtained from hybrid of a cross between Harco Black (Cock) and Fulani ecotype chicken (Hen) raised for twelve weeks. Growth traits measured were body weight (BW), shank length (SL), wing length (WL), body length (BL), beak length (BKL), keel length (KL), neck length (NL) and body girth (BG). The correlation procedure of SAS was used to generate Pearson’s correlation coefficient between body weight and other measured traits. Genetic correlation between body weight and linear body measurement were generally positive and significant (P<0.05) at all ages. The values ranged from 0.13 - 0.99 at week 2, 0.27 - 0.98 at week 4, 0.3 - 0.98 at week 6, 0.23 - 0.98 at week 8, 0.3 - 0.98 at week 10 and 0.24 - 0.99 at week 12. Highly significant correlation coefficients were obtained between BW and BG, BW and BL, BW and WL, BW and KL, BW and BKL at all ages. In conclusion, meaningful improvements can be made through selection of pair of traits that were positive and significant.

Keywords: Correlations, body weight, Body measurement, chicken.