CARCASS AND SERUM BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF F2 PROGENY OF ABIA ECOTYPE BIRDS AND THEIR EXOTIC MALE LINE CROSSES IN THE HUMID TROPICS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4433Keywords:
Abia-ecotype birds, exotic birds, body weights, heritabilityAbstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the meat production potentials and serum attributes of Nigerian locally adapted chickens crossed with an exotic male line. Abia Ecotype chickens from three senatorial districts of the state were used to study the growth performance and genetic traits of f2 progenies of the birds. The birds consisted of a base population of two Abia ecotype chicken, Brown (B1) and Black (B2) plumage colours were used as female – lines and crossed with two exotic meat type chicken, Cobb (A1) and Ross 308 (A2), as male – line. The mating for the formation of F2 was set up using a 4x4 diallelic crossing technique and the Selection of the most three productive progenies of the F2 evaluated for further selection as improved Abia ecotype Chicken. Data were used to determine the growth performance traits, carcass and serum biochemical profile. Y1A1 (438.00) was significantly higher in week 7 while in week 8, Y1A1 (550.33) and Y2A2 (550.66) had significant (P<0.05) higher in body weight while the least was recorded in Y3A3 (440.00). Y1A1 and Y2A2 had larger breast expansion and was significant (P<0.05) higher at weeks 7 and 8. Y1A1 has longer (P<0.05) in weeks 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, while in week 5, Y1A1 and Y1A2 was higher in the mean value of keel length but was not different (P>0.05) from Y2A2. Live weight, dress weight and drumstick were significantly (P<0.05) higher in Y1A3. Y2A3 had the higher significant (P<0.05) value for dress percentage. Head and breast were higher in Y1A3. Neck and wings showed the highest (P<0.05) values in Y1A2. Y1A3 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the value of shank. Y2A1 showed higher significance (P<0.05) thigh value, while Y3A3 had the highest significant (P<0.05) value in breast percentage. Y3A3 having the highest h2 estimate of 0.78 for BWT. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in albumin, urea and phosphate. Albumin concentration of Y2A3 is significantly (P˂0.05) different when compared with other progenies but not significantly (P>0.05) different from Y2A1 and Y1A2. Urea and phosphate concentration of Y2A3 and Y3A1 were significantly higher (P<0.05) when compared to other genotypic groups. Correlation coefficient was consistently high between body weight and linear body measurements in all the progenies. From the study, Y1A1 and Y1A3 genetic groups weighed heaviest and showed distinct phenotypic characteristics among the indigenous chicken strains. Efforts are needed to conserve the genetic resources of these chickens.