Sexual Dimorphism in Predicting Body Weight of Two Broiler Strains

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine if the relationship between liveweight and linear body measurements, as well as predictability of both liveweight and linear body measurements were influenced by sex in two strains of broiler chickens (Arbor Acre and Anak). One hundred and twenty day old broiler chicks comprising sixty two males and fifty eight females were used in the study. The birds were wing tagged at day old. Liveweight and linear parameters such as wing length (WL), thigh length (TL), drumstick length (DL), shank length (SL), body length (BL), body girth (BG) and keel length (KL) were measured on individual birds fortnightly (at day old, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks). The result of the study showed that sexual dimorphism existed in the relationships between liveweights and linear measurements at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age in the Arbor Acre broilers, while in Anak broilers the effect of sex was significant at 2 weeks and 8 weeks of age only. Sex influenced the linear body measurement (wing length, thigh length, drumstick length, shank length, body length, body girth and keel length) that could predict liveweights at all ages in the Arbor Acre and Anak broilers.