QUANTITATIVE TRAITS DIFFERENTIATION OF THE NIGERIAN FULANI ECOTYPE CHICKENS IN FOUR AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES

Abstract

Quantitative traits data collected from one hundred and forty (140) Nigerian Fulani Ecotype Chickens (NFEC) from four agro-ecological zones at 44 weeks old were evaluated. The collections were made up of 25 hens and 10 Cocks from each of sudan savannah (Kebbi), guinea savannah (Kwara), derived savannah (Nasarawa) and humid forest (Osun). Twenty morphological measurements (body weight, body length, neck length, head length, shank length, thigh length, comb length, comb height, wattle length, wattle height, toe length, drumstick length, beak length, keel length, chest circumference, shank diameter, comb serration, wing span, wing length and spur length) were taken from birds in each collection. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and forward stepwise discriminant analysis. Effect of ecological zone of collection shows significant (P <0.05) difference in only four (head length, body length, shank length and thigh length) of the twenty measured traits. Forward stepwise discriminant analysis shows that body weight, toe length, thigh length, head length and neck length are the largest contributors to the discrimination between the NFEC from the different agro-ecological zones. A remarkable low variability observed in most of the quantitative traits qualifies NFEC as a potential breed. However, further study using larger sample number and molecular genetics technique may be necessary. This is to confirm if the reported variation is solely due to the environment or whether it is genetic or the interaction between the two factors.