COMPARATIVE STUDY ON GROWTH TRAITS AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN TWO STRAINS OF BROILERS

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between body weight and linear body parameters in Arbor acre and Ross308 strains of broilers at 0-4weeks of age using sixty birds of each strain. Data were collected on body weight, body length, shank length, wing length, drumstick length and breast width. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 and later subjected to multiple linear regression analysis. The body weight of Ross308 was significantly (P<0.01) higher than Arbor acre as age advanced. The values of coefficients of determination (R2 ) were all high and positive, while the shank length was significantly higher (P<0.01) in Arbor acre. This study therefore, recommends Ross 308 for higher performance. Selection of Arbor acre broilers could be based on shank length, body length and wing length while Ross 308 could be based on the wing length, breast width and drumstick length. Hence a comprehensive selection program could be planned for improvement of arbor acre and Ross 308 based on the regressions coefficients obtained from this study.