GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND GHRELIN GENOTYPES OF THREE YORUBA ECOTYPE CHICKEN STRAINS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4298Abstract
Growth performance and haemoglobin polymorphisms in relation to the Ghrelin Genotypes present in three Yoruba ecotype chicken strains were evaluated. Blood sample was collected from 45 Yoruba Ecotype chicken strains: Frizzled Feathered (FF), Naked Neck (NN) and Normal Feathered (NF) for ghrelin genotyping via electrophoresis using standard procedures. Growth performance data were generated for 18 weeks: Initial and Final Body Weight, Body weight gain, Feed Intake, Feed conversion Ratio (FCR) and the mortality rate. Data were subjected to ANOVA and means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test. Ghrelin genotyping of the three Yoruba ecotype chicken strains for 18 weeks showed that genotypes AA and AB were observed, while genotype BB was absent among the chicken strains. Results revealed that ghrelin genotypes had significant effects (p<0.05) on Final Weight, Body weight gain, Feed Intake, FCR and the mortality rate. The highest final body weight was recorded in the NN genotype (888.08±0.12g), while the lowest final weight gain was recorded in the NF genotype with (805.10±0.12g). The highest body weight gain was also recorded in the NN genotype with (858.61±0.14g) and the least body weight gain was recorded in the NF genotype (775.67±0.14g).The lowest feed intake was recorded in the NN genotype (5538.46±7.09g) while the highest feed intake was recorded in the NF genotype (5752.46±7.09g).The highest FCR was recorded in the NF genotype (7.42±0.01g) while the lowest FCR was recorded in the NN genotype (6.45±0.01g). The picture of the ghrelin genotypes during electrophoresis showed the genotypes A and B. The base pairs (bp) of 300 and 400 indicated the genotype AA while the base pairs (bp) of 300,400,500,700,900 up to 1000 indicated the BBgenotypes. It was concluded that Naked Neck chicken with the ghrelin genotypes AA and AB had the lowest feed intake and FCR, which indicated that Naked Neck ghrelin genotypes AA and AB favoured better growth performance
