MORPHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF THE NIGERIAN HEAVY LOCAL CHICKEN ECOTYPE REARED AT NSUKKA

Abstract

Morphometric measurements have been found useful in contrasting size and shape of animals and body weight can be determined without the use of weighing scales. The aim of the study was to predict body weight from linear body measurement and establish regression equation for the prediction of body weight. A total of 120- day old the Nigerian heavy local chicken ecotype (NHLCE) chicks were used for the study. The birds were generated from the existing NHLCE parent stocks in the Department of Animal Science farm. Cocks and hens were randomly selected from the existing flock. Artificial insemination was used as the mating method. Fertile eggs produced were marked accordingly and hatched with the aid of an electric automated incubator. The chicks were brooded for eight weeks. Body weight and linear body measurements were taken biweekly. The results showed that body weight, body length, chest girth and shank length increased with age. The average body weight ranged from 37.90g at day old to 567.60g at 8 weeks of age. Average body length ranged from 9.73cm at day old to 26.31cm at 8 weeks, chest girth ranged from 3.18cm at day old to 9.76cm at 8 weeks, average shank length ranged from 3.68cm at day old to 10.39cm at 8 weeks of age. The regression analysis showed an equation with a coefficient of determination (R2 ) of 0.736. it was therefore concluded that linear  body measurements can be used to predict body weight and that farmers who may not have means of weighing  their birds could estimate body weight the morphological characteristics.