Comparative Evaluation of Growth Performance and Feed Utilization of Improved Nigerian Indigenous Broiler and Different Crossbreds

Abstract

The study was carried out as part of efforts to improve the performance of the Nigerian indigenous chicken and improve potentials of indigenous broiler strains to provide higher quality of meat at a reduced cost. The study compared the growth and feeding traits of three different chicken crossbreds with the generated lines of Improved Nigerian indigenous broiler (FUNAAB-Alpha) using the Arbor Acre broiler as the experimental control. Males of three broiler breeds types (Kuroiler, Sasso and Arbo Acre) were mated with a total of 120 improved Nigerian indigenous pullets (FUNAAB-Alpha) to generate 360 crossbred broilers. 120 each of Arbor Acre and FUNAAB-Alpha improved line were also reared in a separate pen for comparison. Growth performance, feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of all the chicken breeds were recorded for 8 weeks and compared. Two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the analysis with consideration of the effect of breeds, sex and its interaction. The results revealed a significant (P < 0.05) influence of the breeds on the traits across all ages. FUNAAB-Alpha broiler consumed the least quantity of feed/bird/day followed by the Sasso-FUNAAB-Alpha crossbred throughout the period of the experiment. However, Sasso-FUNAAB-Alpha chicken had the highest mean value for body weight and other linear body parameters among the crossbreds. Despite of the improvements achieved in FUNAAB-Alpha crosses, there is a need for further analysis and research in order to achieve the maximum potential of the improved broiler strain