REPEATABILITY ESTIMATES OF SOME GROWTH TRAITS IN FOUR BROILER STRAINS AT DIFFERENT AGES
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Date
2011
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Nigerian Journal of Genetics
Abstract
A total of two hundred and eight (208) broiler clicks belonging in four strains (Anak 2000, Arbor Acre Ross and Shavers), were used to estimate repeatability of some growth traits of ages 2.4 and 6 weeks. The traits considered were Body weight, (BW), Body length, (BL) Body girth (BG), Drumstick Length (DL), Keel length, (KL) Shank length (SL) Shank diameter (SD) and Wing length (WL). Repeatability estimates of body weight were (0.99) for Anak 2000 and Arbor Acre at ages 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Shavers at 6 weeks and Russ at ages 4 and 6 weeks. It was (0.98) for Shavers at ages 2 and 4 weeks, and Ross at 2 weeks of age. Estimates obtained for other traits measured were highly repeatable ( > 0.60) across the strains. Medium repeatability estimate of 0.50 was obtained for shank
length in Anak 2000 at 2 weeks of age while lower repediability estimates obtained were 0.45 and 0.32 for SL and SD in Arbor Aere at 4 weeks of age, 0.35 for shonk length and shank diameter and 0.43 for wing length in Shavers at 2 weeks. All the traits considered in the Ross strain were highly repeatable (> 0.83), indicating possible high expected response from selection for the traits.
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Keywords
Broiler strains, Age, Growth traits, Repeatability