ABSTRACT

 This study aims at evaluating growth performance. carcass characteristics. phenotypic correlations and heritability estimates of body measurements of Aylesbury ducks. The dataset contained records of 105 birds consisting of(15) males and (30) females parents (p). (30) males and (30) females oftspring respectively. Body weight (BW) and the following linear body parameters were recorded at starter and finisher phases namely body length (BLT). both depth (BDP). beak length (BKLT). breast width (BRSWT). thigh circumference (TC), wing length (WL), keel length (KL) and shank length (SL). At finisher phase (12 weeks) carcass parameters determined included pre-slaughter live weight (PSLW). slaughter weight (SW). carcass weight (CW). gizzard weight (GW), small intestine weight (SIW). large intestine weight (LIW),liver weight (LVW), heart weight (HW). gizzard \vidth (GWD). small intestine length (SIL) and large intestine length (LIL). Result showed that significant differences (PK 0.05) were observed between the sexes with males recording higher final weight and daily weight gain than the females at the finisher phase while no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in initial weight, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of both sexes. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between body weight and linear body traits in both sexes. The females noticeably were higher at the early phase of growth whereas, the males outperformed them at the later phase. The regression of body weight on linear body parameters showed significant relationships between traits. with high coefficient of determination (R2 ) in both starter and finisher phases. The log linear regression equations of log-transformed and allometric growth equations xi for 12-weeks, showed reliable allometric relationships between body weight and the linear traits. Carcass characteristics of male and female expressed as percent live weight. showed significant differences (P><0.05) in pre-slaughter weight. slaughter weight. carcass weight and liver weight in males and females respectively. The male Aylesbury recorded higher values (P>0.05) were observed in eviscerated weight. dressed percent. gizzard. large intestinal, small intestinal and heart weights, gizzard width, large intestinal and small intestinal length. Although males had higher dressing percentage of 86.24% and liver weight ot 2.40% than the females with dressing percentage of 85.03% and liver weight of 1 .92%. There were strong positive correlations.