ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted mainly to determine the growth perfonnance of Normal Feathered Local Chicken (NFLC) X Rhode Island Red (RIR) in the humid tropical environment. The major objective of this work was to determine the growth performance of normal local chicken crossed with the Rhode Island Red in the humid tropical environment and to improve the productive adaptability of the commercial strains of poultry through crossbreeding in the tropics. The experiment was conducted at the poultry unit of the Teaching and Research Farm of Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State. The base population of twelve (12) parental lines consisting of ten (to) matured Rhode Island Red (RIR) at the point of lay and two (2) matured Nonnal Local Chicken (NLC). The birds after being mated produced about 180 eggs out of which 60 hatched. The birds were divided into six (6) replicates with 10 birds per replicate. Proper management was observed from brooding to the end of the rearing as it concems feeding, water and health care and others. Data was collected on feed and growth parameters, linear body parameters and was analyzed in a completely Randomized design (CRD). Significant differences (p< 0.05) were observed in these parameters which showed an increasing trend from week 1 to week 8. This result shows that an increase in age was associated with an increase in the growth parameters at 8" week, including body weight (531.89 g), shank length (12.59 cm), body girth (21.71 cm), wing length (17.26 cm) and keel length (11.30 cm) but seemed not to have improved the body length of the Nonna! Local Chicken when compared to previous result obtained for local chicken. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in feed and growth parameters from week 2 to week 8. The daily weight gain, and feed efficiency showed progressive increases except in week 4 which showed a slight decline in value, although the value remain positive . The slight decline in daily weight gain (5.89 g at week 3 to 4.02 g at week 4) and feed efficiency (7.00 % in week 3 to 11.00% week 4) probably shows that the hybrids were actually utilizing so much energy to develop their internal organs, and as a result converts little feed to its muscle. Significant positive correlations (p><0.05) were observed between body weight and the following body parameters: body length, shank length, body girth, thigh length, wing length and keel length which ranged from 0.933 to 0.973 and 0.900 to 0.946 at 4 and 8 week respectively. These strong positive correlations suggest that an increase or decrease in body weight was associated with an increase or decrease in these morphometric parameters and suggest a trend which is very useful in selection and genetic improvement purposes. This research concludes and recommends that further experiments should be extended into several filial generations in other to see if there could be better performance in the resulting hybrid progenies in terms of meat and egg production. > were observed in feed and growth parameters from week 2 to week 8. The daily weight gain, and feed efficiency showed progressive increases except in week 4 which showed a slight decline in value, although the value remain positive . The slight decline in daily weight gain (5.89 g at week 3 to 4.02 g at week 4) and feed efficiency (7.00 % in week 3 to 11.00% week 4) probably shows that the hybrids were actually utilizing so much energy to develop their internal organs, and as a result converts little feed to its muscle. Significant positive correlations (p<0.05) were observed between body weight and the following body parameters: body length, shank length, body girth, thigh length, wing length and keel length which ranged from 0.933 to 0.973 and 0.900 to 0.946 at 4 and 8 week respectively. These strong positive correlations suggest that an increase or decrease in body weight was associated with an increase or decrease in these morphometric parameters and suggest a trend which is very useful in selection and genetic improvement purposes. This research concludes and recommends that further experiments should be extended into several filial generations in other to see if there could be better performance in the resulting hybrid progenies in terms of meat and egg production. > were observed between body weight and the following body parameters: body length, shank length, body girth, thigh length, wing length and keel length which ranged from 0.933 to 0.973 and 0.900 to 0.946 at 4 and 8 week respectively. These strong positive correlations suggest that an increase or decrease in body weight was associated with an increase or decrease in these morphometric parameters and suggest a trend which is very useful in selection and genetic improvement purposes. This research concludes and recommends that further experiments should be extended into several filial generations in other to see if there could be better performance in the resulting hybrid progenies in terms of meat and egg production