Genetic parameter estimates for juvenile body weight in indigenous Uttara chickens

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of juvenile body measurements in indigenous Uttara chickens. Body measurement records at birth of 1907 chicks sired by 25 breeder cocks and 200 breeder hens were used in heritability calculation. Genetic parameters were estimated for Uttara chicken juvenile body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age. Heritability of all body measurements was estimated by paternal half-sib method. Heritability estimates can be used to improve body measurements of indigenous Uttara hens. The sex dimorphism effects were estimated at 2 weeks of age and were present at later ages. These results indicate that mass selection method based on the individual phenotype of the chickens at different ages can provide genetic improvement in the flock. Thus, early body measurements of the Uttara chickens could be used for prediction of the size of the adult Uttara.