Sanda A.J., Adebambo O.A., Olowofeso O., Adeleke M.A., Akinfenwa M.O., Nworgu F.C., Lawal R.A.
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, IAR and T. Moor Plantation, P
Sanda, A.J., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adebambo, O.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Olowofeso, O., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Adeleke, M.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Akinfenwa, M.O., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria; Nworgu, F.C., Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, IAR and T. Moor Plantation, P.M.B. 5029, Ibadan, Nigeria; Lawal, R.A., Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria
An experiment was carried out to determine the growth performance of different crossbred broilers and egg line, and to investigate the effect of genotype (Marshal, Anak Titan, Giriraja, Rhode Island Red cocks, indigenous pullets and exotic dihybrid and trihybrid crosses) on body weight gain. Data were collected for a period of five months. Results showed that with the effect of sire genotype on body weight, Marshal cross has the highest body weight of 1780.50±186.16 g at twenty weeks of age, while Rhode Island Red cross has the lowest mean value of 1287.25±53.55 g. With the effect of dam genotype, dihybrid has the highest body weight with a value of 1663.0±0.00 g at twenty weeks of age, followed by Normal and Anak Titan, respectively. The crossbreds of Marshal sire and Anak Titan dam showed the highest mean body weight of 1909.33±186.10 g at twenty weeks of age; also crosses of Marshal sire and Anak Titan dam produced eggs with the most significant mean weight of 60.00±0.30 g for egg line, while the crossing between Normal indigenous sire and Normal indigenous dam produced eggs with lowest mean weight of 57.08±3.55 g. The interaction between sire and dam on body weight and egg weight showed improvement in the egg line for poultry production. Results of the experiment suggest that crossing of exotic breed of sire with the normal Nigerian indigenous dam produced birds with improved growth performance for broiler chickens and improvement in the egg line.