Abstract
Genetic parameters were estimated for bodyweight (BWT), shank length (SHL), and wing length (WL) of Nigerian local chicken (NLC) from 4 to 20 weeks of age by fitting dyadic mixed model (dmm) equations which yield estimates of variance components equivalent to minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimator (MINQUE). Data obtained from 600 chicks, progenies of 300 hens and 30 cocks were used for the analysis. The heritability estimates range from 0.08 to 0.80 for BWT, 0.03 to 0.69 for SHL and 0.22 to 0.47 for WL. The genetic correlations among BWT, SHL and WL at different ages were high and positive and range from 0.18 to 0.96 with the exemption of SHL and WL at 16 weeks (- 0.06). The phenotypic correlations were positive and range from 0.10 to 0.91. The results imply that NLC could be improved on any of the studied traits through mass selection and that improvement in one trait will result to correlated improvement in the others.
Highlights
The population of chicken in Nigeria has been estimated at approximately 166 million (FAOSTAT, 2007)
The Nigerian local chicken is characterized by poor growth, small body size, small egg size and egg number which is not desirable in a competitive economy (Ebangi and Ibe, 1994)
Knowledge of genetic parameters is necessary for designing an appropriate breeding plan for genetic improvement of Nigerian local chicken (NLC)
Summary
The population of chicken in Nigeria has been estimated at approximately 166 million (FAOSTAT, 2007). The Nigerian local chicken is characterized by poor growth, small body size, small egg size and egg number which is not desirable in a competitive economy (Ebangi and Ibe, 1994). Despite these undesirable characteristics, the NLC still plays important role in the rural economy of Nigeria by providing meat, egg and house hold income to the rural people. Studies have shown that the local chicken in Africa exhibit high genetic variability within their populations indicating their potential for genetic improvement through selective breeding (Osei-Amponsah et al, 2010, Dana et al, 2011). Osei-Amponsah et al (2013) reported average h2 estimates of 0.54 and 0.42 for bodyweight and shank length of local chicken of Ghana. The objective of this study was to estimate heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations of bodyweight, shank length and wing length of NLC using dyadic mix model analysis
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