COMPARATIVE MORPHOMETRICS TRAITS AMONG NOILER CHICKENS OF DIFFERENT PLUMAGE PATTERNS

Abstract

The study investigated morphometrics traits among noiler chickens of brown, barred, black, black and white, brown and white plumage patterns at 8 week. A total of 200 Day-old chicken of noiler breeds were obtained from Amo Farms Limited Oyo state. The chickens were distributed in duplicate of 25 chickens per plumage and fed with commercial diet (22% crude protein, 3000kcal/kgME). The research was carried at Adekunle Ajasin University. All routine management were practiced. The result obtained at the 8^th week showed that the morphometrics traits for all the noiler chickens were all
significantly different (P<0.05) from each other with black and white plumage patterned chickens having the highest height (35.8333cm). The average weight gain indicated the least value in brown of 1055.55±30.9204g that was significantly different (P<0.05) from brown and white with 1296.50±73.9282g. Wing length, breast width, breast length for all plumages were insignificantly different (P>0.05). Black, black and white patterned noiler chicken was statistically insignificant, in beak length. The present study has revealed that the morphomtrics traits of noiler chicken at 8^th week,
as influenced by difference in plumage patterns and could be used to make decisions in noiler chicken and production.