Phenotypic correlations between body weight and morphometric traits in broiler chicken strains

Abstract

A total of 270 one day-old broiler chicks comprising of 90 chicks each ofAborAcre, Ross and Marshal Strains were used for the study. The study was carried out to determine the correlation between the body weight and other morphometric measurements in the broiler strains from 2 to 8 weeks of age and predict body weight of the broiler using linear body measurement. Data were collected on body weight and body measurements to include breast length (BRL), thigh width (TW), shank length (SL), keel length (KL), wing length and drumstick length (DL). There were strong positive and significant (p>0.01) correlations between body weight (BWT) and all morphometric traits in the three broiler strains studied, except breast length (BRL) that showed weak but significant (p<0.01) correlations. Also correlations among the morphometric traits were significant (p<0.01) in the broiler strains except for correlation between shank length (SL) and (BRL). Specifically, significant and strong positive correlations were observed between TWDandBW(rp=0.89),BLandBW(rp = 0.91), KL and BW (rp = 0.89) in Arbor Acre broiler Strain. In Marshall, significant and positive correlations were obtained between TWD and BW (rp = 0.89), KL and TWD (rp = 0.91), KL and BW(rp = 0.89) in Arbor Acre broiler Strain. Similarly, in Rosss strain, strong positive correlations were observed between TWD and BW (rp = 0.89), BL and BW (rp = 0.90),KLand TWD(rp=0.91).All other correlations were positive, weak or moderate. The phenotypic correlation between body weight and linear body parameters were positive and significant, which implies that increase in one body trait will lead to increases in the other.