SOME BIOMETRIC AND ALLOMETRIC GROWTH TRAITS OF PUREBRED HEAVY ECOTYPE OF THE NIGERIAN LOCAL CHICKEN
ABSTRACT
Fifty five (55) experimental birds were randomly replicated into 5 deep litter pens in the ratio of 1
cock: 10 hens. Like to like random mating was ensured to raise 200 chicks in the F1 generation.
Chicks were subjected to measurements like body weight, body length, shank length, shank
colour, beak colour, feather colour, feed conversion ratio, mean feed consumption, egg colour,
egg fertility, egg hatchability, dead embryo and mortality at hatch and subsequently at 4 weekly
intervals.
Data obtained from these traits at ages of 0 (day old) - week, 4-weeks, 8-weeks,12-weeks 16-
weeks and 20 weeks were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a nested or hierarchial
design and in a paternal half sib analysis using SAS (2004) statistical procedure.
Body weight was significantly different among the progeny and ranged from 30.33g at day old to
1334.67g at 20 weeks of age. Sire had no significant effect in average body weight gain
(ABWG), expect at 8-12weeks of age. ABWG ranged from 85.05g at 4 weeks to 441.20g at 20
weeks of age.
There was significant (p<0.001) difference in feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 12 weeks of age.
Sire had highly significant (p<0.001) effect on average feed consumption (AFC) from 4-20 weeks
of age.