Effect of Genetic Groups and Gender on Body Weight and Different Morphometric Traits in Poultry Birds

Abstract

Background: Traits of economically importance are quantitative, complex with continuous variability in chickens whereas body morphometric parameters are variable on the basis of some factors such as age, sex, nutrition, climate and status of the birds which is very important in differentiating native from exotic as well as commercial breeds. Methods: Three genetic groups of chicken i.e., Rhode Island Red (RIR), Kadaknath and Punjab Brown were classified according to gender and genetic groups. The body weight was measured from 0 day to 26th week of age and morphometric trait from 12 to 26th week of age. The fixed effect of gender and genetic groups on different fortnightly body weights (BW) and morphometric traits were estimated. Result: Punjab Brown poultry birds had significantly higher (p≤0.01) body weight and morphometric traits viz. beak length (BKL), keel length (KL), wing length (WL) and body girth (BG) for most of the studied weeks. Male birds consistently had significantly (p≤0.01) higher body weight and important morphometric parameters viz. shank length (SL), shank width (SW), BKL, comb length (CL), KL and WL compared to females across all age groups which interprets the significance of different non-genetic factors on body weight and important morphometric parameters for further selection in different breeds of poultry birds.