Growth Performance and Heterosis in Meat-type White Crossbred Chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the body weight, weight gain, meat yield, livability and heterosis of different crossbred chickens produced by mating three pure lines of meat-type chickens i.e., Male line white (MLW), Male line white2 (MLW2), Female line white (FLW). A total of 369 crossbred as hatched chicks of 2 genotypes i.e., MLW2 × FLW2(MLW♂ × FLW♀), MLW × FLW2 were brooded with electric brooder on litter floor and standard broiler diets were fed from day old to 42 days of age. Proper management strategies were practiced for all genotypes. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded weekly. One male and two female chickens from each cross were sacrificed to record their dressing yield. The body weight was significantly (p<0.01) higher in MLW2 × FLW2 (1768.66 ± 15.61g) than MLW × FLW2 (1684.39 ± 17.62g) at 6 weeks of age. The weight gain followed similar trend as body weight. The overall feed conversion ratio was slightly better in MLW × FLW2 (1.63) than in MLW2 × FLW2 (1.65). The dressing percentage was similar in MLW2 × FLW2 (72.66%) and MLW × FLW2 (72.35%). The livability percentage was near 100% in both crosses. The heterosis for body weight gain was 61% and 68% in the MLW2 × FLW2 and MLW × FLW2 crossbred. So, it may be concluded that the 3-way white crossbred (MLW2 × FLW2) may be used for meat production based on overall performance and characteristics.