Genetic Analysis of the First Eight Weeks Body Measurements of Hubbard Broiler Breeder Chickens in Shika, Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
This study was therefore designed to:
- Estimate genetic parameters for body weights and body linear measurements at different
- Ascertain the extent to which linear body measurements could be used to predict body weights.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Broiler breeder
One of the broiler chicken breeding companies is Hubbard, a company of Group Grimaud. With more than 85 years of experience in selecting the best genes for the broiler industry, it provides solutions that focus on the economic performance, health and well-being of breeding stock. Hubbard specializes in state-of-the-art selection programs to improve the performance of pure lines, and offers a range of products that respond to current and future needs of the broiler industry. It has a longstanding experience in breeding, developing and marketing breeding stock for both conventional and alternative markets. Hubbard operates its selection programs in 3 different centers in North America and Europe, along with its own production sites in North America, Europe and Brazil. (Kelly Jane, 2007). She continued that the presence of the company in nearly 100 countries around the world and the support of dedicated teams involved in Production, Technical Service, Sales and Marketing assure the continuous delivery of quality products that are best suited to the different broiler markets throughout the world. The Hubbard ultra –yield breeder package is designed to produce the maximum saleable meat of any broiler breeder available on the market today. This is achieved without compromising the breeder reproductive performance. Its competitive breeder performance allows the ultra-yield broiler to be used at smaller weights thus meeting the needs of the premium whole carcass market by giving a superbly conformed finished product. However, the ultra-yield’s genetic potential is maximized at the heavier weights (2.8 – 4.0 kg) where the highest meat yield can be harvested by the processors looking for the maximum value de-boned chicken meat from each carcass. According to her, the ultra-yield is a feather sexable package allowing broiler females to be grown and sexed separately, while allowing the more efficient males to be grown to the heavier weights. (Kelly Jane, 2007).
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study location
This research was conducted at the poultry unit of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika, Zaria. Shika lies between latitudes 11 and 12 0N and longitude 70 and 80E at an altitude of 640m. The area falls within the Northern guinea savannah zone. The average annual precipitation is 1,100mm, which spreads from late April or early May to mid- October, with a peak between June and September (wet season). The wet season is usually followed by “Harmattan”, a period of cool, dry weather which lasts from mid-October to February (post rains). The mean maximum temperature varies from 27oC to 35oC depending on the season; and the mean relative humidity during Harmattan and wet season are 21 and 72 % respectively (Oni et al., 2001).
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
Body measurement characterization of Hubbard broiler breeder chickens by
Table 4.1 shows the body measurement characterization of Hubbard broiler breeder chicks by age. From the table, there was an increasing trend in measured traits as the birds advanced in age.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
Body measurements of Hubbard Broiler Breeder chickens by
The increasing trend obtained in this study for body weights and linear body measurements as the birds advanced in age is supportive of previous reports of Pingel et al.(1990), Essien and Adeyemi (1999), Adedeji (2004) and Adedeji (2008). This suggests that age is a major determinant of growth and physiological development.
Sire effect on body weight and conformation traits at different ages.
The significant effect of sire on body weights and some linear measurements at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks in Hubbard broiler breeder agrees with the findings of Hossain and Ahmed (1993) in their work on indigenous Rhode island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens. Similarly, Adedeji et al. (2008) obtained significant effect of sire on body weight and linear body measurements in pure and crossbred chicken progeny in a derived savannah environment. This implies considerable genetic contribution of sire to these traits. Although, the sire does not lay eggs, it contributes genetically to the growth and performance of the chick. Therefore appropriate selection programme that will ensure the use of proven sires in the poultry combined with good mating system would yield good results.
CHAPTER SIX
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study was undertaken to estimate the genetic parameters for body weights and body linear measurements at different ages and to ascertain the extent to which linear body measurements could best predict body weight at 8 weeks in Hubbard broiler breeders. Data from 160 Hubbard broiler breeders at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Shika, Zaria were used for the study. The data analyzed consisted of 160 body weight records from 0-8weeks as well as conformation traits (Back length, Chest circumference, Chicken height and Shank length) at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks. Body weight records were measured in grams while conformation traits were measured in centimeters. The results indicated that Sire significantly (P<0.05) affected body weights at 2, 4, and 8 weeks but was non significant (P> 0.05) at 6 weeks. Hatch effect was significant (P<0.05) on body weight at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. Similarly, Sex effect was significant (P< 0.05) on body weight at 2, 4 and 6 weeks except at 8 weeks. The heritability (h2) estimates for body weight and conformation traits from 2 to 8 weeks were low, and ranged from 0.12 ± 0.172-0.23 ± 0.213 and 0.01± 0.128-0.14 ± 0.81 respectively. However, high heritability estimates were reported for egg weight (0.95 ± 0.11), while that of chick yield and day old weight were low (0.2 ± 0.23 and 0.35 ± 0.12) respectively. Genetic correlations for body weight at different ages ranged from low to high but were positive in most cases except for correlations between 1 and, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks weights. Phenotypic correlations for body weights at different ages also ranged from low to high and were positive in all cases (0.007-0.963). Genetic and phenotypic correlations for body weight and conformation traits at 2 weeks were positive in most cases and ranged from low to high except for genetic correlations between chest circumference and shank length as well as chest circumference and chicken height which were negative. Genetic correlations for body conformation traits at 4 weeks were high and positive in most cases and ranged from 0.681 to 1.751, except for correlations between body weight and chicken height which was low and negative, while phenotypic correlations ranged from moderate to high (0.330 to 0.744). At 6 weeks, the genetic and phenotypic correlations for body weight and conformation traits were all high and positive, while those of 8 weeks were positive and ranged from moderate to high for the genetic correlations whereas the phenotypic correlations were all high and positive ranging from 0.681 to 1.00. Environmental correlations between egg weight, chick yield and body weights were positive in most cases ranging from low to high except for those of egg weight and day old weight, day old weight and chick yield, day old weight and 3 to 8 weeks. Environmental correlations for body conformation traits at 2 weeks were low except for shank length and chicken height, while moderate to high and positive correlations were obtained at 4 and 8 weeks. From this study, chicken height at 6 weeks was the best conformation trait that could be used for selection purposes, while back length at 8 weeks was the best predictor of 8 week body weight.
Conclusions
From the results obtained in this study, significant effect of Sire, Sex and Hatch on body weight and some linear body measurements imply that they could be included in the model designed for genetic evaluation of the broiler breeders especially for selection purposes.
Low heritability estimates obtained for body weights and conformation traits can be attributed to high environmental effects and it implies that selection based on individual performance alone may not be advisable. Low to high and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations for body weight and conformation traits are indications of linkage effects.
Recommendation
Further research should be carried out in terms of selection for the improvement of body weight and conformation traits, taking environmental factors into consideration.
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