The aim of this study was to compare the growth performance of different broiler strains and to evaluate the suitable skip-a-day feed restriction regime at the starter and finisher phases. A total number of 288 day-old broilers of Arbor Acres, Hubbard and Marshall were randomly allocated to four treatments of 96 chicks per strain, with each treatment having three replicates of eight birds. The four treatments are full – fed (control), second, third and fourth week skip-a-day feed restriction. Data on body weight and body linear measurements were recorded on weekly basis to the 8thweek. Results showed that there was significant (p<0.01) effect of strain on body weight, body length, breast girth at the starter and finisher phases. This indicates that there were differences in genetic make-up of the three strains. Arbor Acre strain appeared tolerant to feed restriction and had superior body weight at the starter and finisher phases. Regarding the effect of skip-a-day feed restriction on birds, there was significant (p<0.01) effect on growth characteristics of the birds. Birds full-fed had the highest mean value in body weight, while third week feed restriction recorded intermediate value but better that other feed restriction regimes. It is suggested that for profitable broiler production under tropical conditions, Arbor Acre and third week skip-a-day feed restriction be considered. L'objectif de cette étude était de comparer les performances de croissance de différentes souches de poulets de gril et d'évaluer le régime approprié de restriction des aliments pour animaux par jour aux phases de démarrage et de finition. Un nombre total de poulets de grillage de 288 jours d'Arbor Acres, Hubbard et Marshall ont été attribués au hasard à quatre traitements de 96 poussins par souche, chaque traitement ayant trois répliques de huit oiseaux. Les quatre traitements sont complets – nourris (contrôle), deuxième, troisième et quatrième semaine skip-a-day restriction de l'alimentation. Les données sur le poids corporel et les mesures linéaires du corps ont été enregistrées sur une base hebdomadaire jusqu'à la 8e semaine. Les résultats ont montré qu'il y avait un effet significatif (p<0.01) de la tension sur le poids corporel, la longueur du corps, la circonférence du sein aux phases de démarrage et de finition. Cela indique qu'il y avait des différences dans la constitution génétique des trois souches. La souche Arbor Acre semblait tolérante à la restriction de l'alimentation et avait un poids corporel supérieur aux phases de démarrage et de finition. En ce qui concerne l'effet de la restriction d'alimentation par jour sur les oiseaux, il y a eu un effet significatif (p<0.01) sur les caractéristiques de croissance des oiseaux. Les oiseaux nourris à part entière avaient la valeur moyenne la plus élevée en poids corporel, tandis que la restriction de l'alimentation de la troisième semaine enregistrait une valeur intermédiaire, mais mieux que les autres régimes de restriction des aliments pour animaux. Il est suggéré d'envisager une production rentable de poulets de grillage dans des conditions tropicales, arbor acre et restriction d'alimentation de troisième semaine par jour.
Correlation coefficients are useful tool in animal breeding as a means of predicting potential response. In this study, body weight (BW) and linear body traits records of Arbor Acre and Cobb broiler strains obtained at 3 – 8 weeks were used to compare the growth performance of the strains as well as estimate the phenotypic correlations (rp ) among BW and the linear body traits. Repeatability (R) values of BW and the linear body traits were estimated at weeks 3, 5 and 7. Atotal of 200 day old chicks, 100 each of Arbor Acre and Cobb were used for the study. The linear body traits considered were body length (BL), shank length (SL), chest circumference (CC), keel length (KL), wing length (WL) and drum stick length (DSL). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the strains for BW and the linear body traits at the various weeks. BW differed significantly at weeks 5, 6 and 7, which ranged from 1036.67 ± 36.93 – 1736.67 ± 46.41 for Arbor Acre and 930.00 ± 20.59 – 1563.33 ± 33.26 for Cobb. Arbor Acre showed significant (P<0.05) superiority to Cobb in their linear body traits in most of the weeks. BW had high significant (P<0.05; P<0.01) positive rp with the linear body traits, which ranged from 0.535 (KL) – 0.842 (BL) for Arbor Acre and 0.523 (SL) – 0.834 (BL) for Cobb. The rp among the linear body traits in both Arbor Acre and Cobb were positive but ranged from moderate to high. The R estimate of BW of Arbor Acre and Cobb were all very highly repeatable at weeks 3, 5 and 7 ranging from 0.90 – 0.99. R values for the linear body traits ranged majorly from moderate {(0.31 – 0.67 and 0.37 – 0.69)}to high {(0.78 – 0.97) and 0.97) and (0.71 – 0.92)} for Arbor Acre and Cobb, respectively across the weeks evaluated. The result of this study indicates that Arbor Acre could be a strain of choice for rearing in our study area owing to its superiority over Cobb in terms of growth performance. All the linear body traits measure were good estimators of BW in both strains as well as each other, implying that any phenotypic selection on one trait will lead to improvement of others. The high repeatability estimates of body weight and some of the linear traits indicate that fewer records would be required to adequately characterize the inherent growing ability of the birds at the various stages of growth.
A total of 270 one day-old broiler chicks comprising of 90 chicks each ofAborAcre, Ross and Marshal Strains were used for the study. The study was carried out to determine the correlation between the body weight and other morphometric measurements in the broiler strains from 2 to 8 weeks of age and predict body weight of the broiler using linear body measurement. Data were collected on body weight and body measurements to include breast length (BRL), thigh width (TW), shank length (SL), keel length (KL), wing length and drumstick length (DL). There were strong positive and significant (p>0.01) correlations between body weight (BWT) and all morphometric traits in the three broiler strains studied, except breast length (BRL) that showed weak but significant (p
The local breeds of animals in Nigeria deserve improvement in their genetic profile and physiological status. A total of 78 day-old Random-bred Nigeria local turkey poults were used as parent stock to generate another 232 day-old poults (F 1) to evaluate the Nigerian local turkey phenotypes based on egg quality parameters. Three phenotypic classes (black, white and spotted) were obtained as base population and used to generate F1 progeny for the study. Experimental design for the experiment was a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with phenotypic class as major factor of interest and hatches as block. The egg quality characteristics, namely egg weight, egg length, egg width, egg shape index were the external egg quality characteristics while the internal egg quality characteristics include the albumen weight, yolk weight, yolk height, yolk width and Haugh Unit. These egg parameters were significantly (p<0.05) highest in the black variety. Shell thickness, albumen height and yolk index were not significantly different (p>0.05) in the three local turkey phenotypes. Generally, the black varieties had highest values internal egg quality traits. It is therefore, concluded that for rapid improvement of these traits, the black variety could be used to enhance egg quality and reproduction of Nigerian local turkeys in the study area. The present findings could assist in the design of long-term genetic improvement programmes for turkey production in Nigeria.
Morphometric traits also called linear body measurements or conformation traits are important parameters in predicting body weight especially in commercial breeders and producers. Thus, the study was carried out to predict body weight of broiler using linear body measurement. In this study, a total of 270 day old broiler chicks comprising of 90 chicks each of Abor Acre, Ross and Marshal Strains were used. Data were collected on body weight using body measurements to include breast length (BRL), thigh width (TW), shank length (SL), keel length (KL), wing length and drumstick length (DL). The regression analysis was simple linear regression. The values of the coefficient of determination (R2) in Abor Acre, Ross and Marshall strains ranged from 89.8 – 99.8; 88.4 – 98.9; and 80.8 – 99.5 respectively with thigh width showing the highest % R2 value of 99.8% in week 2; 66.5 – 97.9; 60.3 – 80.4 and 28.6 – 72.3 respectively with breast length (97.9%) having the highest % R2 value. This showed that breast length was the best predictor of the body weight of the broiler in week 4; 38.5 – 100; 88.0 – 98.6; 17.0 – 94.8 with shank length (100%) showing a 100% R2 value. This showed that breast length was the best predictor of the body weight of the broiler in week 4; 38.5 – 100; 88.0 – 98.6; 17.0 – 94.8 with shank length (100%) showing a 100% R2 value in week 6; 76.9 – 96.3, 72.2 – 88.8 and 58.1 – 97.6 respectively with wing length recording the highest % R2 value in week 6; 76.9 – 96.3, 72.2 – 88.8 and 58.1 – 97.6 respectively with wing length recording the highest value (97.9%) week 8. The different strains had different coefficient of determination (R2) values above 50% with different linear body parameter at different ages of the birds, indicating that any of the linear body parameter could be used to predict body weight of broiler chicken although, accuracy of prediction increased with increasing R2 value. Amongst all the linear body parameters evaluated, the shank length of Abor Acres strain had highest R2 value (100%) in week 6. Thus shank length was the best linear body parameter with 100% accuracy of prediction, and may be useful criterion in estimation of growth and prediction of body weight.
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