ABSTRACT

The experiment was conducted using 36 local birds (frizzle, naked neck and normal) in a Randomized complete block design (RCBD) to determine the effect of genotype on the haematology of the local birds. Each" group was replicated twice with six birds (male and female) per replicate. The parameters measured were scrum calcium. Total protein, Cholesterol, while blood cell ( WBC), Red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume ( PCV) and haemoglobin ( Hb). Blood samples were collected in vial bottles from 12 birds ( wing- banded) for study. The results of the data obtained from the birds used for the experiment show that no significant differences ( P>0.05) existed for calcium and WBC among the three genotypes irrespective of their sexes. Even though there were numerical increases between the sexes and genotypes i.e. the calcium ranged between 21. 095- 43.75 (mg/l00ml) with the male frizzle having higher value of 43.75 al the 4 wcck (which implies good and strong bones). and the female frizzle having the lowest value of 21.095 (mg/l00ml) at the 1^st week (I.e indicating the use of calcium for calcification of the egg shell during egg formation).Also the WDC values rangc<l between 1.0 - 9.0 (mg/1001111 x 10⁵). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed for cholesterol (1" week) with the values ranging between 0.50 - 3.35 (mg/l00ml), total protein (2° weck) with the values ranging between 3.20- 10.55 (g/l00ml), RBC (1 and 5" week) with the values ranging between 1.0-3.0 (mg/100ml x 10°), PCV (3'° week) with the values ranging between 20.00 - 45.00 (%), and Hb (4° weck) with the values ranging between 4.30 - 8.30 (g/dl). However, the frizzle genotype showed better performance than the other genotypes among the parameters measured and should be further exploited and selected for improvement of our local poultry industry.