Effect of genotype on growth, fear-related behaviours, and walking ability of FUNAAB Alpha broiler chickens

Abstract

The FUNAAB Alpha broiler, a tropical chicken breed developed in Nigeria, has three genotypes which are normal feather (NF), naked neck (NN), and frizzle feather (FF). This 56-day study investigated the effect of genotype on growth, fear-related behaviours, and walking ability of FUNAAB Alpha broiler chickens. Two hundred and four (204) chickens (68 NF, 68 NN, and 68 FF chickens; 34 males and 34 females per genotype) were used for the experiment. Body weight and growth rate were measured on days 27 and 56. The level of fear using the tonic immobility test (TI) on days 23 and 51, and emergence from a dark box on days 25 and 53 were measured. Walking ability was assessed using the latency to lie test on day 54. There was a genotype effect on body weight on days 27 and 56 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively) and growth rate from days 1–27 and days 1–56 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). Of the three genotypes, the NN chickens were lighter in body weight, while the NF and FF had similar body weights on days 27 and 56 (p = 0.64 and p = 0.85, respectively), and growth rate from days 1–27 (p = 0.79). The male chickens were heavier on days 27 and 56 (p = 0.04 and p = 0.04, respectively) and had a better growth rate from days 1–27 (p = 0.03). The duration of tonic immobility on days 23 and 51 was similar in all three genotypes. The latency to emerge from a dark box on day 25 was not affected (p = 0.70) by genotype, but it took the NF chickens a longer time (138.20 ± 18.70 s) to emerge from the dark box on day 53. The walking ability of the birds was not affected (p = 0.83) by the genotype. However, male chickens had better (p = 0.01) walking ability by standing for a longer time than the females during the latency to lie test. In conclusion, the NF and FF chickens were heavier than the NN on days 27 and 56, and the NN and FF chickens were less fearful than the NF chickens on day 53. The FF genotype is recommended for meat production due to its better growth and less fearfulness.