ABSTRACT

A total of 267 poults produced from eight (8) toms and twenty eight (28) hens in a Randomised Complete Block Design was used for the experiment. The poults consisted of four (4) genotypes; 56 Black x Black (Bx B), 96 White x White (W x W), 73 Black x White (B x W) and 42 White x Black (W x B). Data were collected weekly for 12 weeks and were used to determine the effect of genotype on body weight (BWT) and linear body parameters namely; Breast width (BRTW), Shank length (SL), Thigh length (TL), Keel length (KL), Body length, (BL) and Wing length (WL). Results showed significant genotypic differences (P<0.05) in BWT and all linear body parameters. The Bx W performed best in B WT with range of 62.25g - 2 I 93. I Og, followed by W x B genotype. This result also revealed unique body conformation features among the genotypes. B x W had significantly (P<0.05) arger BRTW and longer thighs. Bx B had the highest values for SL, BL and WL, followed by B x W. Best fit regression model was observed in the regression of BWT on age in W x W genotype, the regression of BWT, SL, KL, BL and WL on age in Bx B, the regression of BWT, BRTW and KL on age in Bx Wand the regression of BWT, SL, TL, and KL on age in W x B, suggested that it is more reliable to predict BWT and linear body parameters using a particular age in the four genotypes. The highly significant (P<0.05) regression equation of body parameters on age showed that age is a good predictor of linear body parameters. The backward elimination method of multiple regression portrays that combining two or more linear body traits gives the most reliable prediction. W x W had the most perfectly fit model in week 2-8 and from week IO - 12, consecutively, followed by Bx W in weeks 1,2, l 0, 11 and 12. B x B had the best fit models in weeks 3 and 4, while W x B had no perfect fit regression model since it had R values less than 60% in all the weeks. This implies that it will be more accurate to predict body weight from linear body parameters in W x W, Bx W and Bx B in those weeks specified. The allometric coefficient revealed that shank and keel grew faster than the other body components in W x W, Bx Band Bx W genotypes respectively, but grow in equal proportion with the body in W x B while body length increases slowly in all the genotypes. W x W also showed that thigh and breast grew faster than the body and B x B genotype had a BL increasing faster than the body. The importance of keel as a major meat cut region which is also associated with higher BWT shows that B x W progenies having faster keel growth, have superior genotype and thus is ideal for turkey production in the tropics.