Evaluation of growth characteristics of parental, F1, F2 and backcross chickens from broiler and Black Australorp stocks in Tanzania
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, P.O.Box 202, Mpwapwa, Dodoma, Tanzania; Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3014, Morogoro, Tanzania
Munisi, W.G., Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, P.O.Box 202, Mpwapwa, Dodoma, Tanzania; Mbaga, S.H., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3014, Morogoro, Tanzania; Katule, A.M., Department of Animal Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO Box 3014, Morogoro, Tanzania
This study was done in central Tanzania to evaluate growth performance of parental, F1, F2 and backcrosses of Broiler (BB) and Black Australorp (AA) stocks. The parental stocks (BB and AA) and the F1 which performed better in phase one of the study (i.e. Single cross between Black Australorp and broiler, AB and its reciprocal, BA) were used in the crossing to produce 11 genetic stocks totaling 396 birds. Birds were fed on nutritionally balanced diets to meet their requirements as per age and physiological stage. Body weights at day old, 4, 8, 12 weeks of age and body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM) as well as livability from day old to 12 weeks were evaluated. The data on growth traits were recorded on individual bird basis and analyzed using general linear models, while frequency was used for livability analysis. Genetic stocks differed in body weight at different weighing periods in both males and females. The broiler parental stocks (BB) were heavier than all other genetic stocks at all stages of growth and sex except at hatching in females. From fourth to 12 weeks of age, the genetic stocks with 75% broiler and 25% Black Australorp (¼A¾B) inheritance were heavier than the genetic stocks with 75% Black Australorp and 25% broiler (¾A¼B). The genetic stocks with 75% broiler and 25% Black Australorp (¼A¾B) inheritance were also heavier than other crosses in body weight at sexual maturity. There were no differences among genetic stocks with respect to livability in both sexes. It is concluded that the backcrosses of broiler performed better than the backcrosses of Black Australorp, F1 and F2 with regard to body weight at different stages of growth including body weight at sexual maturity as well as livability. © 2015, Fundacion CIPAV. All rights reserved.