Prediction of body weight with morphometric traits in some broiler chicken strains

Abstract

Morphometric traits also called linear body measurements or conformation traits are important parameters in predicting body weight especially in commercial breeders and producers. Thus, the study was carried out to predict body weight of broiler using linear body measurement. In this study, a total of 270 day old broiler chicks comprising of 90 chicks each of Abor Acre, Ross and Marshal Strains were used. Data were collected on body weight using body measurements to include breast length (BRL), thigh width (TW), shank length (SL), keel length (KL), wing length and drumstick length (DL). The regression analysis was simple linear regression. The values of the coefficient of determination (R2) in Abor Acre, Ross and Marshall strains ranged from 89.8 – 99.8; 88.4 – 98.9; and 80.8 – 99.5 respectively with thigh width showing the highest % R2 value of 99.8% in week 2; 66.5 – 97.9; 60.3 – 80.4 and 28.6 – 72.3 respectively with breast length (97.9%) having the highest % R2 value. This showed that breast length was the best predictor of the body weight of the broiler in week 4; 38.5 – 100; 88.0 – 98.6; 17.0 – 94.8 with shank length (100%) showing a 100% R2 value. This showed that breast length was the best predictor of the body weight of the broiler in week 4; 38.5 – 100; 88.0 – 98.6; 17.0 – 94.8 with shank length (100%) showing a 100% R2 value in week 6; 76.9 – 96.3, 72.2 – 88.8 and 58.1 – 97.6 respectively with wing length recording the highest % R2 value in week 6; 76.9 – 96.3, 72.2 – 88.8 and 58.1 – 97.6 respectively with wing length recording the highest value (97.9%) week 8. The different strains had different coefficient of determination (R2) values above 50% with different linear body parameter at different ages of the birds, indicating that any of the linear body parameter could be used to predict body weight of broiler chicken although, accuracy of prediction increased with increasing R2 value. Amongst all the linear body parameters evaluated, the shank length of Abor Acres strain had highest R2 value (100%) in week 6. Thus shank length was the best linear body parameter with 100% accuracy of prediction, and may be useful criterion in estimation of growth and prediction of body weight.