PHENOTYPIC CORRELATION OF BODY WEIGHT AND LINEAR BODY MEASUREMENTS IN FOUR BROILER STRAINS REARED IN A SEMI-ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching and research Farm, Maiduguri, Borno State, to evaluate the relationship between body weight and linear body measurements in four strains (Arbor Acre, Cobb500, Hubbard, and Ross 308) of popularly reared broiler chickens in Maiduguri. A total of 480 unisex chicks were used for the experiment and data were collected at eight weeks old. Body weight was measured using digital weigh balance, while linear body measurements
was obtained using simple tape rule. The correlation between body weight and linear body measurements were determined using Pearson‟s product moment coefficient of SPSS package. Results revealed significant (P<0.01) phenotypic correlation between body weight and linear body measurements in all strains and sexes. Of all the linear body measurements, chest girth was highly correlated to body weight and had the highest (0.98) correlation value, while shank circumference had the lowest recorded relationship with keel length (0.19). Body weight showed high positive correlation with all body measurements in female broilers across the strains with the exception of Arbor Acre for keel length (0.39). Highly significant (P<0.01) positive correlation was observed in Ross 308 females between body weight and chest girth (0.97). Moderate correlation values between body weight and shank length (0.47), body weight and shank circumference (0.35), chest girth and shank length (0.44), chest girth and shank circumference (0.35) were recorded in male broilers.