Abstract
This study aims to contribute towards the genetic improvement of Nigerian local chicken ecotype through selection. Genetic parameters for body weight at first egg (BWFE), egg number (EN) and egg weight (EW) till first 90 days of lay were estimated for both selected and control lines. Selection was based on an index using BWFE, EN and EW as the selection criterion traits. After three generations of index selection, BWFE, EN and EW all improved significantly (P<0.05) in the selected line. The heritability estimates for all traits in the three generations for both lines were moderate to high (BWFE, 0.33-0.56; EN, 0.19-0.28; EW, 0.25-0.44). Low to high positive genetic and phenotypic correlation was observed between BWFE and EW. The genetic and phenotypic correlation between BWFE and EN, and EW and EN were generally moderate to highly negative in both lines for all generations. However, in the second generation of the selected line a positive genetic correlation (0.33) was observed between EW and EN.
Highlights
IntroductionIt has been reported by Resource Inventory management (RIM) (1992) that the local chicken contribute 80% of the 120 million poultry types raised in the rural areas of Nigeria
This paper reports results pertaining to the first three generations of selection based on selection index for increased body weight at first egg, and short-term egg production traits in a Nigerian light ecotype chicken population
The increase in the body weight at first egg (BWFE), AFE, WFE and EW in subsequent generations of selection confirms the report of Barbato (1999) that body weight has been shown to be highly responsive to selection such that genetic improvement for growth has resulted in increase in the egg weight and age at sexual maturity
Summary
It has been reported by Resource Inventory management (RIM) (1992) that the local chicken contribute 80% of the 120 million poultry types raised in the rural areas of Nigeria. The egg production of the local chicken is a result of many genes acting on a large number of biochemical processes, which in turn control a range of anatomical and physiological traits. With appropriate environmental conditions (nutrition, light, ambient temperature, water, sound health, etc.), the many genes controlling all the processes associated with egg production can act to allow the chicken to express fully its genetic potentials (Fairfull and Gowe, 1990). Altering and improving the environment, physiological situation or manipulation of these birds though contribute immensely towards improvement of their production qualities, the possibility remains that variation in their productivity exists after optimum non-hereditary conditions have been established. A more permanent approach towards a sustainable productivity is genetic improvement, which can be achieved through selection and crossbreeding (Szwaczkowski, 2003)
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