Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373, Makurdi. Benue State, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Enugu State, Nigeria
Momoh, O.M., Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, University of Agriculture, P.M.B 2373, Makurdi. Benue State, Nigeria; Nwosu, C.C., Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Enugu State, Nigeria
Genetic evaluation of the Nigerian local heavy chicken ecotype (HE) and its F1 crosses with the light ecotype (LE); HE X LE as the main cross (MCX) and LE X HE as the reciprocal cross (RCX) was carried out at the Poultry Farm of the Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The objective of the study was to provide estimates of heritability of some growth traits and the genetic correlations between them in HE and its crosses under improved management. A total of 214 pedigree hatched day old chicks of HE, 190 day old chicks of MCX and 185 day old chicks of RCX from a total of 15 sires were used in the study. Body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (DG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured at 4-weekly intervals in all the genetic groups. Heritability estimates and genetic correlation between the traits were obtained. Body weight in HE, MCX and RCX were on the average lowly to moderately heritable. Heritability estimates of daily gain were generally low in HE and RCX with a range of h2 = 0.04 ± 0.13 to 0.12 ± 0.14. feed conversion ratio had moderate h2 estimate in all the genetic groups. In all the groups, genetic correlation estimates between body weight and body weight gain were high, positive and highly significant (P < 0.001). The low to moderate heritability of growth traits in the Nigerian local heavy chicken ecotype and its crosses as well as the variations in additive genetic effect reflect genetically unimproved populations.