Abstract

Aim: The main purpose of the study was to investigate the performance traits and feed indices of 3 genotypes of chicken.

Method and materials: A total of 600 birds of 3 genetic compositions (200 broiler chickens, 200 Heavy ecotype chickens (HE) and 200 Nondescript local chickens (NC) were used for 4 weeks. Parameters measured include body weight, body length, chest girth, shank length, average weekly feed intake, average feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio. The body weight of week 8 ranged from 0.382kg for Nc to 3.350kg for broiler, while the average weekly feed intake 3 genotypes were 0.173kg, 0.089kg and 0.092kg for Broilers, NC and HE, respectively.

Results: The body weight, body length, chest girth, shank length, average weekly feed intake, average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio showed significant differences (p<0.01) in all the 3 genotypes. The body weight of 3 genotypes at weeks 6 and 8 for broiler weighed 1.622; 0.252; 0.360 and 3.350; 0.380; 0.510kg for Broilers, NC and HE respectively. It was indicated that broilers weighed significantly (p<0.01) higher than HE, which were also significantly (p<0.01) heavier than NC. The study further revealed relative growth of 3 genotypes during the period of study. At 8 weeks of age, broiler and heavy ecotype were 6.79 and 1.36 times more than non-descript local chicken respectively. While broiler weighed 6 times more than the heavy ecotype chicken. At 8 weeks of age, the body length, shank length and chest girth of broiler grew 1.8, 2.1, 1.9 more than the non-descript local chicken. However the body length, shank length and chest girth of the heavy ecotype were 1.2, 1.3 and 1.3 times more than the non-descript local chicken. The feed intake of Broiler chicken at 4 and 8 weeks of age were 3.34 and 2.38; and 1.94 and 1.88 more times above the feed intake of the nondescript and heavy ecotype chicken.

Conclusion: It was concluded that little genetic progress was made however, the result reveals that selection program is further needed to increase the present body weight of the heavy ecotype.

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