Abstract

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This study is aimed to investigate the effect of genotype on growth traits characteristics of Hubbard and Arbor acre commercial broiler chickens treated under the same dietary and environmental conditions. A total of one hundred (100) broiler chicks were used for the experiment consisted of Hubbard and Arbor Acre strain of broiler chicken. Data were collected from 1 week to 8 week of age on body weight using sensitive weighing balance and body measurements (shank length, wing length, thigh length, chest circumference, keel length and body length) were measured from each bird using a tailor’s tape. All data were subjected to General Linear Model (GLM) using SAS 2000 software package. The correlations between body weight and linear body measurements were determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r).The result indicated that body weight, body length, chest circumference, keel length and wing length were significant (p<0.05) with male Hubbard broiler strain had consistence superiority inbody weight 654.00±22.68g, 862.00±26.63g, 1133.83±68.90g, 1438.50±61.82g and1969.70±156.93g at 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 week of age respectively. Also female Hubbard strain attained the body weight of 112.25±7.25g, 218.67±17.52g, 449.33±75.93g, 627.67±65.46g, 846.33±27.47g, 1062.00±72.10g and 1326.00±168.35g at 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 week of age respectively. Hubbard broiler strain showed superiority in growth assessment of body weight and linear body measurements in the 1 to 8weeks study period.The result also showed that there were very high significant (p<0.0001) positive correlation between body weight and body measurements of Hubbard strain and Arbor acre strain of broiler chicken.The correlation between body weight and body measurements in female Arbor acre ranged from 0.86 to 0.98 while male Arbor acre ranged from 0.94 to 0.98. The correlation between body weight and body measurements in female Hubbard ranged from 0.72 to 0.92 while male Hubbard ranged from 0.72 to 0.93. From this study, Hubbard broiler strain has been seen to exhibit significant higher body weight and body measurements over Abor acre strain of broiler. The results of this study also suggest that there are high positive correlations between body weight and linear body measurements.

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